Taming Wild Threats
Thiruvananthapuram
The Kerala Cabinet on Saturday approved a Bill to permit the culling of violent wild animals that stray into human settlements, aiming to reduce man-animal conflicts. The amendment will be made to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, but as it falls under the Centre’s purview, the state will seek the President’s assent before implementation.
The Bill, which will be presented in the Assembly session beginning Monday, follows growing protests in high-range areas over repeated attacks by elephants, wild boars, and other animals. The Cabinet also proposed classifying such violent animals as “vermin,” legally enabling their killing.
Data underscores the crisis: between 2016 and 2023, Kerala reported 55,839 wild animal attacks, resulting in 909 deaths up to early 2024. Elephants alone killed 180 people in the past eight years. These attacks also caused severe crop losses, increasing public anger in affected regions.
Another Bill approved allows private landowners to cut sandalwood trees they grow, with Forest Department permission. Both proposals will be tabled in the upcoming session.
Officials admit procedural hurdles remain, but the move carries political weight with local body polls due later this year and Assembly elections in 2026. The government hopes this step reassures residents in vulnerable regions.
The Catholic Church welcomed the decision, saying it would help protect human lives and livelihoods if implemented effectively.
By taking this step, the Vijayan government has positioned itself as responsive to rising rural concerns while balancing conservation and human safety.