Kerala seeks amendments to Wildlife Protection Act for effective management of human-wildlife conflicts

The Kerala government will seek amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to delegate the powers of the Chief Wildlife Warden to order the hunting of wild animals that pose danger to human life to Chief Conservators of Forests at the circle level.Forest Minister Shibu Baby John will raise the demand at his meeting with the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday.The existing legal and procedural requirements cause delays in taking emergency action against dangerous or habitual conflict animals, particularly Schedule I species, thus increasing the risk to human life and property, Mr.

John will inform the Centre.The existing standard operating protocols, guidelines and advisories for the management of habitually problematic or confirmed man-eating tigers and leopards should be revised and emergency powers to act should be delegated to senior field officers. Simplified capture and relocation procedures are required for the timely management of such animals, the State would argue.

Kerala would also seek permission for aerial translocation of Schedule One animals that come into conflict with humans to interior forest areas with the support of the Indian Air Force. The translocation shall be allowed either free of cost or at concessional rates, Mr. John would ask the Centre.

The State would reiterate its demand for declaring wild pig as vermin for at least one year in local bodies where high and medium conflicts with the animals have been reported and relaxation of norms for the exclusion of Pamba Valley/Angel Valley from Periyar Tiger Reserve and the human habitation areas from Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary. A request for the reclassification of the bonnet macaque from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Act to undertake its population management and conflict mitigation measures will also be placed before the Centre.The State hopes to tie up with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Indian Institute of Forest Management for studies on wildlife population dynamics, carrying capacity of forest ecosystems and habitats and sustainable wildlife management.

The Act shall be amended to incorporate a dedicated chapter on HWC management covering suitable provisions for managing conflicts outside forest areas and habitat management.Central support systemAn enhanced central support for the effective management of human-wildlife conflicts and conservation of the Western Ghats will also be sought.The State would point out that it annually spends around ₹20.

05 crore as compensation for the victims, while the average provision under the relevant State Non-Plan Budget head was only ₹5.65 crore. Keralashouldbe allowed to meet the critical gap funding through appropriate heads.

A dedicated central scheme for payment of compensation, mitigation and coexistence measures should also be initiated, the State would argue.A special ₹450-crore package for voluntary relocation and rehabilitation of tribal settlements and other vulnerable human habitations from high-conflict and disaster-prone landscapes to safer locations are also on the wish list of the State. Published - July 06, 2026 08:42 pm IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATER SEE ALL Remove