Kerala Takes Bold Step to Tackle Man-Animal Conflicts with New Wildlife Bill
In a big move to protect people from wild animal attacks, the Kerala government has greenlit a key amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This bill will now allow the killing of violent wild animals—like elephants and wild boars—that wander into human areas and cause trouble. The decision came out of a special cabinet meeting on Saturday in Thiruvananthapuram, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The cabinet also approved classifying these aggressive animals as "vermin," which means authorities can legally cull them to reduce risks. This comes as Kerala faces a surge in man-animal conflicts, with residents in high-range areas protesting against repeated attacks. Wild animals don’t just harm people—they destroy crops too, hitting farmers hard.
Why now? With local body elections coming up later this year and assembly polls in April-May 2026, the timing feels politically charged. Officials say it’s a way to reassure folks living near forests, where these incidents are skyrocketing. The Catholic Church has praised the Vijayan government’s step, calling it a win for humanity if it gets implemented.
The numbers tell a stark story. From 2016 to 2023, Kerala saw a whopping 55,839 wild animal attacks. Over the same period up to early 2024, 909 people lost their lives to these conflicts. Elephant attacks alone killed 180 in the last eight years. It’s clear why action is urgent.
Since wildlife laws are a central matter, Kerala will seek the President’s nod before rolling this out. Once approved, the bill heads to the new assembly session starting Monday.
In another green light, the cabinet okayed a separate bill letting private owners cut sandalwood trees on their own land—but only with Forest Department permission. This could boost local economies while keeping things regulated.
All three bills—on wild animal culling, vermin status, and sandalwood—will hit the assembly floor soon. As Kerala grapples with these wildlife threats, this could be a game-changer for safety in human settlements. Stay tuned for updates on how it unfolds.
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