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This is an archive article published on March 8, 2024

Opinion Express View on Kerala declaring human-animal conflict as state disaster: Terms of co-existence

Kerala cabinet's declaration should spur debate. Polarised positions on conservation and development don't work

Kerala, Kerala government, Kerala human-animal conflict, human-animal conflict, editorial, Indian express, opinion news, indian express editorialOn February 14, the Kerala assembly passed a resolution that called on the Centre to amend the Wildlife (Protection) Act. It asked for simplifying procedures to deal with wild animals that pose a threat to human life.
indianexpress

By: Editorial

March 8, 2024 06:50 AM IST First published on: Mar 8, 2024 at 06:50 AM IST

In recent years, Kerala has been grappling with a spate of human-animal conflicts, predominantly involving elephants, tigers and wild boars. According to the state government’s records, 98 people died after being attacked by animals last year. This year, wild animal attacks have claimed more than 10 lives. Protests have erupted in several parts of the state including Wayanad district, where elephants have killed at least three people in the last fortnight. Attacks by wild animals have also hurt the state’s agriculture sector. On Wednesday, Kerala’s cabinet declared the conflict as a state-level disaster. Committees at various levels, including at the districts and other local governance units, have been tasked with stepping up vigilance against aggressive animals. The state government has also sought the cooperation of plantation owners and decided to deploy more forest watchers in areas prone to human-animal conflicts. This wide-ranging response, though belated, is welcome. The time has also come to look at the issue from beyond the perspective of an emergency.

Kerala is not the only state to report loss of lives, property and livelihoods in the battle for space between humans and wildlife. According to data submitted by the government to the Lok Sabha in 2022, more than 1,500 people lost their lives in the country between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 after being attacked by elephants. Tigers killed 125 humans between 2019 and 2021. The number of animals killed in this standoff adds to the depressing story. With forests thinning out, wildlife, especially elephants, and increasingly now leopards, have dispersed into areas with high density of human population. The conflict intensifies when people try to chase away animals with searchlights, crackers or guns, making them even more aggressive.

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On February 14, the Kerala assembly passed a resolution that called on the Centre to amend the Wildlife (Protection) Act. It asked for simplifying procedures to deal with wild animals that pose a threat to human life. The state also wants the Centre to declare wild boar as vermin. Extreme measures such as culling rogue animals, however, provide short-term solutions at best. The country needs a serious debate on balancing conservation with its developmental priorities. By all accounts, most protected areas in the countries do not undertake carrying capacity studies. At the same time, development projects fragment wildlife habitats, turning a large number of animals into ecological disclocates who have little option but to compete with humans. Kerala’s predicament could be an occasion to start conversations that transcend the polarities of conservation and development.

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