Operation Bhediya: UP Forest dept capture fifth man-eating wolf, one more remains

The Uttar Pradesh forest department’s ‘Operation Bhediya’ to capture the man-eating wolves is seeing success as a fifth man-eating wolf was trapped during the early hours of Tuesday. One more male wolf remains to be captured, forest officials said.

Forest authorities said the fifth wolf, a female, was trapped at the break of dawn and drones were not used in the operation. District Forest Officer  Ajeet Pratap Singh said, "The operation to capture the wolf started around 5.30am and was completed by 6.30am. This was the first operation in which drone was not used to capture the wolf,” ANI reported.

The DFO said drones were used only to spot the next escape location. “Wolves used to run away upon spotting the drone, so we did not use it,” Singh said. According to forest officials, one more male wolf needs to be captured and its location has been spotted. “We are alert and we will heighten vigilance in the village,” Singh said.

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Renu Singh, Chief Forest Conservator of Central Zone said they changed their strategy this time as the wolves got smarter at spotting the drones. “We changed our strategy because it was changing its behaviour,” she said. The forest department has deployed 165 forest personnel and 18 shooters as part of the operation. 

The Uttar Pradesh forest department launched ‘Operation Bhediya’ to capture a pack of six man-eating wolves attacking villagers in Bahraich.The wolves have so far killed seven people and forest department had captured four wolves earlier. Recently, a five-year-old girl was attacked by the wolves.