UP: 5-year-old boy killed in Wolf attack in Bahraich

A five-year-old boy died in Kaisarganj tehsil of Bahraich district after being attacked by wolves, marking the latest in a series of human-wildlife conflicts in the area, officials said on Saturday. The child, Star, son of Roshan Kumar, was playing outside his home on Friday evening when two wolves suddenly attacked him near the sugarcane fields of Mallahan Purwa village, situated close to the Ghaghara river.

Villagers rushed to the spot after hearing the child’s screams and managed to drive the wolves away with sticks and rods. They found Star lying unconscious and severely injured just a few metres from her home. He was initially admitted to the Kaisarganj community health centre and later referred to the district hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was being transported to a medical college in Lucknow for specialised care, but he succumbed to his injuries en route, authorities said.

Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav confirmed the attack, noting that pug marks of a wolf were discovered at the site. He added that post-mortem formalities are underway and the government will provide financial assistance to the bereaved family.

In response to the incident, the forest department has launched a search operation in the vicinity using drones and specialised teams. Three cage traps have also been set up near the village to prevent further attacks.

This tragedy is part of a spate of wolf attacks in Kaisarganj and Mahsi tehsils since September 9, which have resulted in nine deaths, including seven children, and 32 injuries. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited the region on September 27, instructing that wolves posing threats to humans be safely captured, or shot if capture proved impossible. Following his directive, four wolves have been shot by forest department personnel since September 28.

DFO Yadav stressed that local authorities are taking all possible measures to safeguard residents and urged villagers to remain vigilant, particularly near fields and riverbanks where wolves have been frequently sighted. He also called for cooperation from the community to ensure swift reporting of any wolf sightings, in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.