Uttar Pradesh's Operation Bhediya Captures Male Wolf, Relieves 35 Villages

A forest department team in Uttar Pradesh successfully captured a male wolf under 'Operation Bhediya,' which has killed seven people in Mehsi tehsil of Bahraich district. The capture follows identification by drones and intense ground efforts, bringing relief to 35 terrorised villages. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other officials praised the operation.

A forest department team in Uttar Pradesh captured a fully grown male wolf under 'Operation Bhediya' on Thursday. The operation aims to capture a pack of wolves that have killed seven people in Mehsi tehsil of Bahraich district.

The captured wolf had been terrorising over 35 villages, and its capture brought significant relief to the local population, according to a statement. Including this latest capture, the forest department has so far caught four wolves from the Bahraich area, with plans to relocate the latest one to Gorakhpur Zoo.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the forest department officials for ensuring community safety. Sanjay Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), credited thermal imaging drones for the wolf's detection, leading to its capture at 10:45 am on Thursday. Two wolves are still at large.

Barabanki Divisional Forest Officer Akashdeep Badhawan, in charge of 'Operation Bhediya,' confirmed that the captured wolf is a fully grown male. Six children and a woman have been killed by the animals in the past month and a half. The forest department has deployed 16 teams and 12 district-level officers to capture the remaining wolves, with oversight from top officials following Chief Minister Adityanath's instructions.

(With inputs from agencies.)