Kerala seeks Centre's nod to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations
The Kerala government has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change seeking permission to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations and pose a threat to people's life and property.
In line with a recent Cabinet decision, the State has sought immediate action to delegate powers vested with the Union government in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to the Chief Wildlife Warden, and to 'simplify the related procedures, protocols, guidelines, advisories and so on' to eliminate animals, particularly those included in Schedule I of the Act.
The government had earlier raised multiple requests to amend the law, declare wild pigs as vermin, and to shift bonnet macaque from Schedule I to Schedule II to enable management and mitigation measures at the 'State-level in a site-specific manner.'
While these requests are yet to be considered, the State, has used to considerable effect, the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act to delegate the authority held by the Chief Wildlife Warden to Honorary Wildlife Wardens to kill wild boars that venture out of forests into human-inhabited areas and pose danger to society.
While the measure has been found to be 'quite effective' in managing human-wild boar conflicts, the government recently decided to request the Centre to provide/extend such powers for other species that create problems in human habitations outside forests.
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