No Wildlife Law Change: Centre Blocks Kerala’s Relief Push Amid Escalating Crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Government has once again rejected Kerala’s repeated demands to amend the Wildlife Protection Act and empower the state to act against wild animals that pose serious and recurring threats to human life and agriculture. The Centre’s refusal comes at a time when human-wildlife conflict is spiraling across Kerala’s high-range districts, with farmers and families left devastated and helpless.
According to the official data, 451 people have lost their lives in wild animal attacks over the past five years in state. Yet, despite the staggering human toll, the Centre remains firm in its position.
The state had urged the Union Government to reclassify animals like tigers and elephants from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act to allow quicker interventions. However, the Centre has reaffirmed it will not amend the existing law. These species currently enjoy the highest level of legal protection, which makes any action — even in life-threatening situations — virtually impossible without cumbersome, time-consuming procedures.
The Centre has also flatly refused to declare wild boars as vermin, rejecting a longstanding demand from Kerala aimed at easing control measures and protecting farmlands.

Impractical Rules Block Urgent Action

While the Centre insists that states have powers to act, the ground reality tells a different story. For instance, if a tiger or leopard strays into a residential area, a six-member committee must first be formed — including representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and local NGOs. Camera traps must be set up to identify the animal, prohibitory orders under Section 144 imposed, and only then can tranquilising measures be attempted. Even after capture, the animal must be fitted with a radio collar and released back into the forest — not relocated or removed permanently.
As long as these rigid rules remain, Kerala officials argue, no permanent solution to protect human lives or livelihoods can be implemented.

Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran condemned the Centre’s approach as “unacceptable and unrealistic.” “These rules might look good on paper, but they’re laughably impractical in real-life emergencies,” he said. “The Centre must stop its dual stance and acknowledge the suffering on the ground.”
Kerala Refuses to Stay Silent

Though this is not the first time the Centre has rejected Kerala’s demands, the state is no longer willing to remain passive. The mounting fatalities underscore the urgent need for swift and decisive action, beyond the slow-moving frameworks dictated by the Centre.
In response, the state has officially declared the escalating human-wildlife conflict a “special disaster”, a rare and high-priority classification that enables emergency interventions. The Forest Secretary has been directed to consult the Law Department and submit a renewed legal proposal to the Centre, seeking broader powers to eliminate dangerous animals in time-sensitive situations.

Additionally, Kerala has extended for another year a special order that authorises honorary wildlife wardens and qualified forest officials to shoot wild boars under regulated conditions. But the government is clear: this is a stopgap. What Kerala needs is unrestricted authority to protect human lives and crops when the situation demands it.
Alongside legal measures, Kerala is implementing ten special missions focused on ecological restoration and conflict prevention. Invasive species like acacia and eucalyptus are being removed and replaced with native tree varieties. Conflict-prone zones have been mapped across 273 panchayats in 75 constituencies, and targeted action plans are already underway.
In terms of relief, the state has disbursed over Rs 55.84 crore in compensation over the last four years to those injured or bereaved by wild animal attacks. The government recently doubled compensation amounts and expanded eligibility to include incidents like bee stings and wild insect attacks, which were previously excluded.