Forest dept forms 7-member panel to curb human-animal conflict in Bahraich

Lucknow: In view of the rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict involving wolves in Bahraich and adjoining districts over the past two years, the forest department has constituted a seven-member expert committee to formulate a comprehensive strategy to prevent attacks during the monsoon and winter seasons.

According to an order issued by the forest department, authorities reviewed wolf-related incidents reported in Bahraich forest division and nearby areas during 2024 and 2025 and observed that such cases increased significantly with the onset of monsoon and continued through the winter.

In 2024, a pack of six wolves terrorised over 55 villages in Bahraich since March, resulting in 10 deaths and more than 50 injuries, while in 2025, 12 people were killed and at least 30, mostly children and women, were injured.

The department noted that despite several measures undertaken by forest and wildlife officials during the previous two years, incidents of wolf attacks and conflict with humans continued to rise, prompting the need for a more structured and scientific response mechanism ahead of the 2026 season.

The committee was constituted through an earlier departmental order issued on April 21, 2026, and has now formally been tasked with preparing a timely strategy and submitting a detailed action report to the department headquarters within 30 days.

Officials said the committee would study behavioural patterns of wolves, conflict-prone zones, seasonal migration patterns, habitat disturbances, livestock movement and human activity in vulnerable forest-edge villages to prepare preventive measures.

The divisional forest officer of Bahraich has been appointed as the member secretary of the committee and will coordinate all proceedings under the guidance of the committee chairman and special advisers.

The expert panel includes senior forest officers, retired IFS officials and wildlife scientists associated with the Wildlife Institute of India.

Among those named in the committee are chief conservator of forests, central zone, Lucknow, Renu Singh; conservator of forests, Devipatan circle, Gonda, M Semmaran; DFOs of Bahraich and Barabanki, Sundaresha and Akashdeep Badhwan, respectively; and a retired IFS officer, Mahendra Singh; retired Wildlife Institute of India scientist P K Malik; and senior wildlife scientist Bilal Habib.

Forest officials said the committee has been directed to coordinate with technical experts and field officers to prepare a scientific mitigation framework aimed at reducing casualties, improving rapid response systems and strengthening public awareness in conflict-prone villages.