VILLAGERS here have beaten to death a wolf believed to be the last of a six-member pack that killed nine people, eight of them children, wildlife officials said.
The grey wolves sparked hysteria among residents in Bahraich district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where the animals were said to have attacked more than 40 people.
More than 150 armed personnel and dozens of government forestry officials were deployed to capture the wolves last month.
Five of the animals were trapped, with drones and surveillance cameras suggesting only one remained free.
Government forest officer Ajit Singh said villagers had contacted his team on Sunday after they killed a prowling wolf.
“Upon reaching the scene, we found a wolf with clear signs of physical injuries,” Ajit said. “It seems it is part of the same pack of wolves.”
The majority of India’s roughly 3,000 wolves survive outside protected areas, often in close proximity to people.
Numbers have been dwindling due to the loss of habitat and a lack of wild prey, experts say. — AFP
