Wolf is in the news these days. Fear of wolves is spread in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. Wolves have spread terror in about 35 villages of this district. Since July till now wolves have killed more than 6 people including children, while more than 25 people are injured. Amidst the attacks, the question has also started arising that why has the attack of wolves increased suddenly?
Whether it is folklore or films, the wolf has often been portrayed as a cruel animal or an enemy of humans, but the truth is completely different. According to a BBC report, wolves were found in large numbers in North America until 150 years ago. Some people stayed there with the intention of settling down and then they felt that the wolf and other animals in the forest were a threat to them. Then a campaign was launched against wolves and the gray wolf was targeted during the hunt.
What do the reports say?
The report says that no such case has been registered in America where wolves have attacked humans. Biologists studying wolves admitted that during their research in the forest, they were able to reach the wolves’ den easily. After this attack by humans, the wolves left that area.
According to the report, the government had collected some data during the year 2009-10 in the US state of Montana. Due to this, only 0.23 percent of the cattle had lost their lives due to wolves and other wild animals. More than 5 lakh animals were killed due to digestive reasons, 4 lakh 89 thousand animals were killed due to change in weather, 4 lakh 94 thousand animals were killed during breeding.
It was thus revealed that the indiscriminate hunting of wolves also affected the natural ecosystem of that area. Due to this, other species of animals also had to face difficulties. The report says that with the extinction of the number of wolves, the number of animals like elk (a kind of deer) increased, whereas in the presence of wolves, elk could have been their prey.
As the elk population increased, their need for food also increased. Keeping this in mind, the elk started eating a special kind of wood which was used by beavers to build dam-like structures for their protection. Due to non-availability of this wood, the beaver population suffered. The situation is such that the ecosystem in Yellowstone is struggling even today after the hunting of the last group of wolves in the year 1926.
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