A three-year-old boy was tragically killed by a stray wolf early Monday morning after the animal dragged him from his home in Rasulpur village. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Fakarpur police station in Bahraich district, marking a grim milestone in the region's ongoing human-wildlife conflict.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, identified as Anshu, was inside his family home carrying milk when the wolf attacked. His mother, Nankai Devi, was busy with household chores nearby. Upon hearing her screams, fellow villagers rushed to help. However, dense morning fog severely hampered rescue efforts, allowing the animal to escape with the child.
Police and forest department teams immediately launched a search operation. After nearly six hours, the boy's body was discovered in a sugarcane field roughly one kilometre from the house. Forest officials reported that the wolf had consumed both of the child's legs. The body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination.
Villagers shared that Anshu's father, Ram Manohar, works in Punjab, while his mother lives in Rasulpur with their five children. "She has now lost one of her children," locals stated, highlighting the family's devastating loss.
A Disturbing Pattern of Attacks
Bahraich divisional forest officer Ram Singh Yadav confirmed this was the 13th fatal wolf attack reported since September 10. He provided chilling statistics, noting that earlier victims included a couple and ten children, with at least 24 other people injured in similar encounters. In response, authorities have shot dead six wolves over the past three months during special control drives.
Yadav explained the ecological context behind the crisis. The wolves have established habitats along the catchment area of the Ghaghra river. This zone, dense with shrubs and tall vegetation, provides perfect cover within the sugarcane fields that lie between the river and village settlements. Approximately 65 villages have been identified as highly sensitive to wolf attacks.
When asked about the pattern, Yadav noted that while the area has sufficient natural prey like rabbits and deer, children are targeted because they are more vulnerable. "They are easier prey, which is why they are being targeted repeatedly," he stated bluntly. Despite intensified patrolling in coordination with police, the wolves continuously shift locations, making prevention extremely challenging.
Administrative Response and Ongoing Concerns
Kaisarganj Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Akhilesh Kumar Singh expressed the district administration's deep concern over the recurring tragedies. "We are coordinating closely with forest and police teams to ensure maximum possible safety for villagers," he assured. The administration faces the difficult task of balancing villager safety with wildlife conservation in a complex landscape.
The incident underscores a severe and persistent human-wildlife conflict in the Bahraich region. The combination of habitat, easy cover, and the proximity of villages to wolf territories has created a deadly situation, with young children paying the highest price. Continuous efforts to manage the wolf population and protect vulnerable communities remain a critical priority for local authorities.
