Uttar Pradesh: ‘Shoot on sight’ orders for wolves in Bahraich

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LUCKNOW/BAHRAICH: Uttar Pradesh’s forest department issued Sunday “shoot on sight” orders for wolves following a spate of attacks in Bahraich district that have left six people, including four children, dead in the past two months. The order coincided with fresh attacks that left three villagers injured.”Given the repeated attacks by wolves on villagers, state government has authorised our teams to take strict action to neutralise any aggressive wolves posing a direct threat to human life,” district forest officer (DFO) Ram Singh Yadav said. Officials emphasised that the measure was intended as a last-resort safety step, targeting only wolves that exhibit violent behaviour towards humans, while regular wildlife in the forest remains protected under state laws. Authorities said Bahraich’s Kaiserganj and Mahsi areas were the worst affected.The latest attacks on Sunday left two villagers in Tediya Kotia in Ramganj area and one in Bahorwa Naubasta seriously wounded. Following this, enraged villagers reportedly cornered and killed the animal. DFO Yadav directed a team to visit the spot. “We examined the animal and found it to be a jackal. The attacks were carried out by the jackal,” he said. According to reports, Sushila (21) was attacked when she stepped out of home for routine chores. The animal, hiding in the bushes, leapt on her. Hearing her screams, villagers rushed to the scene. During the commotion, it entered the house of Ram Kumar (40) and attacked him. Both were rushed to hospital, where their condition was said to be stable.In Bahorwa Naubasta village, Barsati Lal Shukla, 62, was attacked by a wolf on his farm. He suffered leg injuries but fended off the animal by charging at it with a sickle.State minister Arun Kumar, meanwhile, conducted a survey of Kaiserganj along with DM Akshay Tripathi and other senior officials. He met the families of some of the villagers who died or were injured in wolf attacks and pledged aid. Officials briefed him on efforts to contain the menace. tnn