| The
problem of child-lifting by wolves in Hazaribagh West,
Koderma and Latehar forest divisions of Bihar State,
India, has been evaluated, based on records of the
Forest Department, interviews, and a survey. Five wolf
packs have created problems in 63 villages.
80
child casualties occurred from April 1993 to April
1995 and only 20 victims were rescued. All the children
were taken from settlements primarily during March
to August between 17.00 and 19.00 hrs. There were more
female victims (58%) than males and 89% were 3-11-yrs
old.
Recommendations
for the mitigation of human-wolf conflicts, and a conservation
strategy for wolves might include: surveying wolf habitats
for identification of dens and rendezvous sites, and
estimating wolf populations; capture of problem wolves;
improving compensation to victims' families; research
on wolf behavior, rabies, wolf/dog hybrids, and the
prey-base; possibilities for introducing natural prey,
and regulation of wolf populations
|