Incidences of wild animal attacks have been reported from various parts of the country including from the state of Kerala. The steps taken by Government for protection of wildlife and management of human-wildlife conflict include the following:
A network of Protect Areas namely viz., National Park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserving covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
The Central Government provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities supported under the scheme include construction/erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields;
An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the Ministry in February 2021. The Advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for suitable portion of ex-gratia relief to be paid within 24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also issued Guidelines to States/UTs on 3rd June, 2022 on managing Human Wildlife conflict including damage to crops. It includes promotion of crops in forest fringe areas which are unpalatable to wild animals, agro forestry models which include cash crops like chillies, lemon grass, khus grass etc. suitably mixed with tree/shrub species. It also includes preparation and implementation of comprehensive long-term plan for alternate cropping by the state Agriculture/Horticulture Department under different schemes in vulnerable areas.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.
The Ministry has provided financial assistance to Kerala under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Development of Wildlife Habitats for better protection of wildlife and improvement of habitat including for activities to curb human wildlife conflict. The details of funds released to Kerala under this scheme during last five years is as follows:
(Rs. in lakh)
Name of the State/UTs | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Kerala | 845.026 | 731.2845 | 295.7737 | 224.4735 | 921.0361 |
The States/Union Territories pay compensation as per their norms. The details of the number of persons who got injured or lost their lives due to attacks by wild animals and details of compensation provided by State Governments are not collated at the level of the Ministry.
The Ministry has recently, increased the ex-gratia payment in case of Human-Wildlife conflict. The revised rates of relief under ex-gratia are as follows:
S. No. | Nature of damage caused by wild animals | Amount of ex-gratia relief |
(a) | Death or permanent incapacitation to human beings | ₹10 lakh |
(b) | Grievous injury | ₹ 2 lakh |
(c) | Minor injury | Cost of treatment upto Rs 25000/-per |
(d) | Loss of property/crops | State /UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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