Kerala to Discuss Wild Animal Control Hurdles With Centre: Forest Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Forest Minister Shibu Baby John said on Wednesday that the state government will take up the practical challenges of dealing with dangerous wild animals with the Center and will also formulate a comprehensive, integrated, multi-layered plan to combat the growing menace of human-wildlife conflict. Replying to a question in Parliament, the minister said the government was working on a comprehensive strategy that would use scientific equipment and technology to prevent wild animal attacks.

He said the law does not allow the killing of wild animals just because they are aggressive, but the Chief Wildlife Warden has the power to order the removal of animals that pose a threat to human life.

However, he said the procedures prescribed for such action were long and cumbersome.

According to current norms, authorities must first try to remove the animal. If this failed, he explained, attempts should be made to capture him, including tranquilising him.

He said that only if such efforts fail could the option of killing the animal be considered, which would be considered after a committee makes a decision.

The minister said that even in cases where a tiger kills a human, authorities must establish whether the tiger is responsible for the attack and has consumed human flesh before it can be declared a man-eater.

“There are many hurdles like this. We will discuss these practical challenges with the Center in the coming days and try to find solutions,” he said.

John also said the state government plans to implement an integrated, comprehensive and multi-layered approach with the participation of local communities to address human-animal conflict.

Highlighting the need for reforms in the Forest Department, he said Kerala has around 6,000 km of forest boundary compared to around 600 km of National Highways passing through the state.

He said that the existing infrastructure was inadequate for such a large area and that forest personnel worked under extremely limited conditions.

The minister also said that the government does not find the current compensation provided in cases of human-wildlife conflict adequate and will seek to improve it.

“When a wild animal enters a human settlement and causes an attack, the Forest Department has a moral responsibility,” he added.