Kerala govt. plans law to allow regulated culling of wild animals endangering human lives and raiding crop lands
The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday examined the legal prospects of introducing a Bill in the next session of the Assembly to sanction well-regulated and scientific culling of wild animals, primarily feral boars, which endanger human life, menace human habitations, and destroy farmlands in the State.
It tasked the Principal Secretary, Forests, to work with the Principal Secretary, Law, to submit proposals for the draft Bill.
As a stopgap, the Cabinet extended an order designating heads of local self-government institutions (LSGIs) or their deputies as honorary chief wildlife wardens to enlist empanelled shooters with licensed firearms to cull marauding wild boars and dispose of their carcasses in the presence of wildlife enforcers and independent government witnesses.
After the Cabinet meeting, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran told reporters that the government sought the Advocate General's opinion on whether the proposed law would conflict with the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972.
Simultaneously, the government would seek the Centre's permission to declare wild boars as vermin and lift the conservation protection given to the species under Schedule III of the Act in the farmers' interest.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) had flagged mitigating the wild boar menace as a political imperative ahead of the 2025 local body polls and the Assembly elections 2026.
The administration has faced repeated criticism from Church-backed settler farmer communities, a significant electoral bloc, for allegedly not doing enough to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, including those involving wild elephants, leopards, tigers, and monkeys.
Human-wildlife conflict deaths have turned into public ire against the government and a rallying cry for the opposition to muster popular opinion against the ruling front during the crucial run-up to the local body and Assembly polls. It's a central talking point for the opposition in the Nilambur Assembly by-election campaign.
Wild boars have emerged as an existential threat to settler farmers, a politically animating issue for the community in at least 11 districts with significant forest cover. The wild boar threat spans 243 panchayats spread across 54 Assembly constituencies in the State.
The menace has almost cratered the rural economy. Farmers have left large swathes of land used for pineapple, tapioca, and other tubers to lie fallow, untended and overgrown.
Recently, small-scale rubber cultivators have found that wild boars have developed a taste for the bark of young trees, making replanting difficult. The wild animals also posed a threat to cardamom and coffee plantations.
Moreover, wild boars have attacked humans, including schoolchildren, two-wheeler riders, pedestrians, and early-morning walkers. They have trespassed into houses, causing panic.
According to government estimates, the wildlife menace has resulted in crop losses of an estimated 9,000 hectares of farmland in the State since 2020. The dearth of licensed shooters and the reluctance of certain local bodies to compensate those involved in wild boar culling operations have impeded the effective eradication of the menace.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Land dispute case: Telangana HC reserves order on A Revanth's plea to quash 2016 FIR; order reserved till July 18
HYDERABAD: Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya of the Telangana high court on Friday reserved orders to July 18 on a plea filed by former Congress MP and chief minister A Revanth Reddy seeking quashing of a 2016 FIR registered against him at the Gachibowli police station. The case was filed based on a complaint by N Peddi Raju, president of the Razole Constituency SC Cooperative Housing Society, alleging trespass and caste-based abuse during a land dispute in Gopanapalli, Rangareddy district. The matter is pending before a special court under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the FIR, Peddi Raju claimed Revanth's brother Kondal Reddy and one E Laxmaiah forcibly entered around two acres of land claimed by the society, demolished a compound wall and other structures, and abused him in the name of caste-allegedly at Revanth's behest. The 2019 chargesheet noted that though Raju claimed purchase of land for the society, the sellers lacked clear title. Meanwhile, Kondal Reddy claimed to have purchased 31 acres in the same survey number in 2005, registered in his name. The chargesheet concluded that the accused trespassed into land in possession of the society and carried out the demolition. Counsel Nimma Narayana, appearing for Peddi Raju, argued: "Though the chargesheet was filed five years ago, charges have not been framed, and crucial provisions under the Atrocities Act were left out." He reiterated that Kondal Reddy used caste abuse, allegedly on Revanth's instructions. The judge reserved her orders and posted the case to July 18.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Declare wild pigs as vermin for at least six months: Kerala forest minister
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the Centre rejecting its request to bring amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, the state has again approached the Union Ministry with the same demand. In a letter to the ministry, Forest Minister A K Saseendran pointed out loopholes in the Centre's stance that the chief wildlife warden has powers to effectively deal with human-wildlife conflict. The minister urged the Centre to declare wild boars as vermin — at least in villages identified as conflict hotspots — for a period of six months. Saseendran, in his letter to Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupender Yadav, pointed out that the chief wildlife warden has only limited powers to act swiftly in critical situations involving human-wildlife conflicts. 'Chief wildlife warden is empowered first to capture, tranquilise or translocate a dangerous animal. If these options are not feasible, then only the chief wildlife warden may permit killing of the identified wild animal listed in Schedule I of the Act. These procedural constraints have limited the warden's ability to act swiftly in critical situations,' he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Before going to court, Telangana willing to talk with AP CM Chandrababu Naidu, says CM Revanth Reddy; seeks cordial ties like with Karnataka
HYDERABAD: A day after submitting a strong objection with the Centre against the Banakacherla project of Andhra Pradesh govt, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday said the state cabinet meeting on June 23 will discuss inviting AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu , ministers and officials for talks on the contentious issue between the two Telugu riparian states. In a chat with media in New Delhi before returning to Hyderabad after his two-day tour, Revanth said the Telangana govt did not want to continue controversies which can be resolved through talks. "There will be no compromise on river water interests of Telangana, but before availing the option of going to court, we are willing to hold talks with Chandrababu Naidu. A solution can be found between the two states only through talks. We do not want unnecessary disputes. Our policy is to continue cordial relations with AP like we are doing so with Karnataka. Like AP is claiming that it has certain rights being a downstream state, even Telangana has similar rights," he said. He said that Chandrababu Naidu first approached the central govt for the project without consulting Telangana. "That is our objection. We have already formed committees at ministerial level to resolve issues arising out of AP State Reorganisation Act between the two states. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo BRS MLA and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao is accusing Congress govt out of frustration as both he and former CM KCR stand exposed for compromising with AP govt on river water interests of Telangana," Revanth said. 'No mention in Act' The CM also pointed out that only Polavaram project is mentioned in the Reorganisation Act. Banakacherla is an ancillary project of Polavaram, which has no mention in the Act, Revanth said. "I am seeking a blanket NOC for 500 TMC share in Krishna river water, whereas Harish Rao, in his letter to the Centre, sought only 405 TMC. The AP state should think about taking up projects only after Telangana state completes all its projects and utilises its rightful share of water. The BRS came to power on the plank of water, funds and jobs. It is now trying to use the water sentiment again as a Sanjeevini (lifeline) to revive the party ," Revanth said, adding he will visit New Delhi again on July 6 and 7. He further said: "A day before I met Union ministers, including CR Patil, BJP state president and Union minister G Kishan Reddy also met them. He is working as a liaison officer for KT Rama Rao. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah said the Kaleshwaram was like an ATM for previous BRS govt. Now, BJP MP Eatala Rajender is claiming that Kaleshwaram was taken with the approval of KCR cabinet. Kishan Reddy should clarify whether Modi and Shah are speaking the truth or Eatala is correct. "
