Residents of Bhirgu Purwa village in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district can finally breathe a sigh of relief. On Thursday evening, the state Forest Department successfully neutralised a wolf that had been terrorising the area, marking the ninth such predator to be eliminated in the region in recent months.
Large-Scale Operation After Precise Intel
Acting on specific information about the wolf's location in the village, which falls under the Kaiserganj Range, a combing team from the Forest Department swiftly moved into action. The operation was large-scale and meticulously planned. Sundresha, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bahraich, confirmed that the alert was received in the evening, prompting the immediate response.
The team laid traps deep inside the riverine belt, nearly four kilometres from the starting point. To maintain an upper hand and track the animal's movements, forest personnel deployed drones for continuous surveillance. The wolf showed cunning by briefly getting caught in a trap but managing to break free, leading to an extended chase through the challenging terrain.
Final Showdown in the Saryu Kachhar
The pursuit culminated in the kachhar (riverine) area of the Saryu River. After all attempts to capture the animal alive proved futile, the shooters were given the order. They cordoned off the zone and neutralised the wolf. The carcass was recovered from the Saryu riverbed later at night and sent to the range office for a post-mortem examination. The DFO identified the neutralised animal as a three-year-old male.
Continued Vigilance for Village Safety
Forest officials have assured that the heightened surveillance and combing operations in wolf-prone areas will not cease. The primary goal remains ensuring the safety and security of villagers who have lived in fear due to repeated sightings and encounters with these predators.
The timeline of wolf neutralisations in Bahraich district is as follows:
- 2025:
- 15 November: Wolf shot dead 1 km from Lodhnapurwa.
- 2 November: Wolf neutralised near Babhananpurwa village.
- 15 October: Wolf killed near Bhirgupurwa village.
- 28 September: Wolf shot dead in Kaiserganj area.
- 13 December: Wolf killed along Saryu riverbank near Godhiya No. 4.
- 14 December: Another wolf neutralised in Saryu riverine area near Godhiya No. 4.
- 27 December: Wolf encountered in sandy belt near Brija Pakadiya village.
- 30 December: Wolf shot dead in Saryu kachhar near Brija Pakadiya village.
- 2026:
- 1 January: Wolf neutralised near Bhirgupurwa village (this incident).
This persistent action underscores the department's commitment to managing human-wildlife conflict in the region.
