Rise in wolf attacks in Uttar Pradesh triggers debate

After a sudden increase in wolf attacks was observed in Uttar Pradesh, the question arose whether the wolf is an aggressive animal. People generally want to know under what circumstances wolves attack humans and what can be done to prevent such attacks.

Wolves attack people

According to the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, eight fatal attacks were reported in Europe and Russia, three in North America and more than 200 in South Asia in the past 50 years up to 2002. The institute later also found that there were 498 attacks on humans worldwide between 2002 and 2020. 25 people died, 14 of them due to rabies.

Wolves avoid humans

Wolf biologist L. David Mech concluded in 1998 that wolves generally avoid humans because they become frightened by hunting. He also noted that the upright posture of humans differs from that of other prey animals and resembles some postures of bears that wolves typically avoid.

Why wolves attack humans

In general, wolves do not attack humans. They are motivated by fear or anger and need to flee or drive away their victim. This can be illustrated with an example. A hunting wolf may be disturbed by a sheepherder defending his flock, a trapped wolf may attack an abusive herder, and a female wolf is most likely to attack a hiker who has been near her young. Wolves have also been observed attacking a wolf hunter in active pursuit; or they may attack a wildlife photographer, a park visitor, or a field biologist. Biologists have also said that such attacks can be dangerous, but they are limited to quick bites.

Wolves in the foothills of the Himalayas

According to the International Wolf Centre, there are about 400 to 1,100 wolves living in the foothills of the Himalayas. The total number of wolves in the Indian subcontinent is about 4,000 to 6,000. According to a 1996-97 report by the San Francisco-based Live Journal, 33 children were killed by wolves while 20 others were seriously injured. Ten wolves were also killed in human-animal conflict. In 1878, considered the worst year in this regard, wolves preyed on more than 600 people.

Attacks in Baharaich

According to wildlife historian Mahesh Rangrajan, wolves do not usually attack humans as humans are not their normal prey. They usually hunt goats and sheep. Rangarajan expressed concern over the developments in Baharaich and said there is a need to investigate why they are now hunting humans.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ajeet Pratap Singh also said that wolves are not normally known to attack humans. They have coexisted with humans for centuries. He also said that once a wolf has tasted human flesh, especially that of a child, it can develop a liking for it. Also, due to their vulnerability, the children are easy targets.

Order to kill wolves

In the latest development, the Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has issued an order to kill a wolf if it is spotted anywhere. An order issued in the name of the chief forest officer said that wolves have killed eight people in eight districts of the state. Earlier, he had ordered to tranquilize the wolves, but this did not work.