LUCKNOW: Wolves have inhabited the region nestled between the Ghaghara and Katarniaghat forests for centuries. But a ‘killer’ pack hasn’t been known to be on prowl for decades. The question that’s bothering the wildlife officials is what has changed now.
Forest department and wildlife experts studying the causes behind the recent wolf attacks believe that the swollen river making inroads into the jungles has apparently disrupted the habitat of the wolves, pushing them towards human settlement.
Wolves are territorial animals, and their territories are often centred around rivers, which provide a reliable source of prey and water.
But when those rivers are flooded, the wolves are forced to leave their territories in search of new food sources, the experts said. In the past six weeks, wolves have killed seven persons, including six children, in and around Bahraich.
“Floods have dramatically altered the natural habitat of wolves,” said Mayank Srivastava, a wildlife biologist who has studied predatory behaviour in animals for over a decade. “Wolves are territorial animals, but when they are forced to leave their territories in search of new food sources, it brings them into closer contact with human settlements.”
Even after the floods subside, the wolves will be in a state of heightened stress and uncertainty. It may take time for their natural prey populations to recover, and in the meantime, human-wolf encounters could remain a danger, he said.
Bahraich DFO Ajeet Kumar Singh agreed. He said that the floodwaters have disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem, driving prey species like deer and smaller mammals to higher ground. In their absence, wolves—driven by hunger—have turned to easier targets, including livestock and, in some tragic cases, humans. “It’s a matter of survival for them,” Singh added.
“When their natural prey is no longer available, wolves are left with fewer options. The floods have created a scarcity that has pushed them to take risks they wouldn’t normally consider,” the DFO said.
Singh said that they have also sought suggestions from other biologists, and they have given similar inputs. “We have also consulted other experts and after we capture the remaining two, a study will be done to unearth the reasons,” he said.
On the other hand, Barabanki DFO Akashdeep Badhawan, who is heading the special task force team to capture wolves, said that habitat disturbance could be one of the reasons. But he also added that he had consulted senior scientists and the possibility of the wolves being infected with rabies cannot be ruled out. “It could be a possibility; hence, the wolves are hunting,” said Badhawan.
Another wildlife scientist from Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, Aniruddha Majumder, seconded Badhawan. For the rural residents, the sudden threat is both terrifying and confusing. Wolves, while always present in the wilderness, have rarely been a direct threat to humans.
But as the floodwaters recede and the landscape slowly returns to normal, experts warn that the consequences of this disruption could linger on.