Human-wildlife conflict: State to propose new chapter

Kozhikode: The Kerala State Board for Wildlife has decided to propose the insertion of a whole new chapter on human-wildlife conflict in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.An expert committee headed by chief wildlife warden will be constituted to draft a chapter on human-wildlife conflict which will be submitted to the central govt for incorporation in the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, after the concurrence of the state govt. The expert committee has been given three months to prepare of the draft chapter.The move to propose the insertion of a full chapter in the Act comes close on the heels of the state assembly passing the Wild Life Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill, 2025, incorporating some specific points in the Act in Oct.The assembly had in the amendment proposed including provisions enabling the chief wildlife warden to authorise immediate action, including killing, tranquilising, capturing or translocating animals when people are attacked by wild animals or if such an animal is found in a public place or residential area after getting a report from the district collector or chief conservator of forests. The Bill also included provision for population control and relocation of species listed in Schedule II. Also, the new Bill had provisions to empower the state govt to declare a species as ‘vermin' if its population becomes unmanageable.Sources said that the new chapter that the state proposes to include in the Act would be more comprehensive and would include matters like compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflict, proposals for enhancing quality of wildlife habitats, wildlife population management, involvement of people and local self-govt bodies in the process, etc."The provisions and sections of the Central Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 are very stringent in nature. In situations requiring urgent intervention in human-wildlife conflict, it is often practically difficult to fully comply with the procedures prescribed under the existing provisions and sections of the Act. In such conflict scenarios, it is imperative to incorporate a dedicated chapter in the Wildlife (Protection) Act containing suitable provisions and sections that would facilitate prompt decision-making and implementation of measures proportionate to the severity of the situation," the note approved by the board in its meeting held on Wednesday said.It said that a comprehensive framework is also required to ensure the protection and maintenance of wildlife habitats within forests and to prevent wild animals from straying outside forest areas and causing damage to agricultural lands. "Wildlife habitats and pathways need to be protected and precautionary measures should be instituted to ensure that developmental activities outside forest areas do not adversely affect forests. Suitable practices in agricultural lands adjoining forest areas should be promoted and enabling provisions be incorporated to manage populations of wildlife in necessary circumstances," the note approved by the board said.