87 Wild Boars Shot Dead in Palakkad in 18 Hours
In a sustained operation lasting 18 hours, 87 nuisance wild boars were shot dead in Ongallur, Palakkad. The action was jointly carried out by the Ottapalam Forest Range and the Ongallur Panchayat. The mission involved nine expert shooters from Malappuram district, along with approximately 20 helpers and six hunting dogs, working to mitigate the threat posed by these animals.
The team of shooters who led the operation included Ali Nellengara, Devakumar Varikkath, Chandran Varikkath, V.J. Thomas, Muhammad Ali Mathengattil, Manoj Manalaya, Shan K.P., Velayudhan Varikkath, and Ismail Thazhekkode, demonstrating a coordinated effort to address the escalating wildlife issue.
According to media reports released in September, a total of 4,734 wild boars that had strayed into human habitations and posed a significant threat to agriculture and crops were culled by July 2025. This extensive culling operation followed the authorization granted to local self-government bodies to eliminate such animals, highlighting the severity of the human-wildlife conflict.
The state government had previously approached local self-government institutions to implement procedures for culling these animals. This move was necessitated by a noticeable rise in the wild boar population in forest areas and a corresponding increase in instances of human-animal conflict, which severely impacted agricultural livelihoods and public safety.
Responding to a starred question in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on September 18, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran stated that the validity of the order appointing the chairpersons of local self-government institutions as Honorary Wildlife Wardens has been extended until May 25, 2026. These wardens are authorized to take measures for culling and eliminating wild boars as per central government provisions.
Further reinforcing the state’s proactive approach, the draft Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill 2025, recently approved by the state cabinet, includes significant provisions. This bill allows for population control measures and the translocation of Schedule II animals to other areas without awaiting central government approval, should their numbers increase in a specific region. This amendment aims to streamline the response to wildlife management challenges, ensuring timely intervention to protect both human interests and ecological balance.