Colorful Teddy Dolls Soaked in Urine Used to Trap Wolves in Bahraich

Bahraich: In an effort to capture the man-eating wolves that have been terrorizing the Bahraich region, the forest department has launched an unconventional approach: using brightly colored teddy dolls soaked in children's urine as bait. According to a senior forest official, this novel method aims to lure the predators away from residential areas and into traps.

Rising Threat in Bahraich

Over recent months, Bahraich has experienced a surge in attacks by wolves targeting both children and villagers. The forest department’s new strategy involves placing the teddy dolls near riverbanks, close to the wolves' resting places and dens. By soaking these dolls in children's urine, the department hopes to replicate a human scent that might draw the wolves towards the traps.

Divisional Forest Officer Ajit Pratap Singh explained, "The wolves are constantly changing their locations. They typically hunt at night and return to their dens by morning. Our goal is to mislead them and direct them towards traps or cages near their dens." Singh added that thermal drones are used to track the wolves, and noise, such as firecrackers, is employed to drive them towards the traps.

Innovative Approach

The teddy dolls, which serve as false bait, are designed to mimic the scent of humans. This strategy is reminiscent of scarecrows used in agriculture to ward off birds. Senior IFS officer Ramesh Kumar Pandey, currently the Inspector General of Forests in the Ministry of Environment, noted that while there is no documented success with such methods, innovative approaches should be explored to address human-wildlife conflicts.

Pandey added, “Historically, the British tried to eradicate wolves from this area and even offered rewards for killing them. Despite these efforts, wolves survived and continue to inhabit the riverbank areas. Various types of bait, including live, dead, and false bait, are used to capture animals, and the teddy dolls fit into the category of false bait.”

Recent Attacks and Current Situation

Since July, a pack of wolves in Mahsi Tehsil, Bahraich, has become increasingly aggressive. Official reports indicate that this pack, consisting of six wolves, has killed six children and one woman since July 17, with numerous villagers also injured. While four of the wolves have been captured, two remain at large, continuing to pose a significant threat.

The forest department is intensifying efforts to locate the remaining wolves using both thermal and regular drones.

(With PTI Inputs)