Kerala Urges Centre to Declare Wild Boar as Vermin Amid Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict

The Kerala State Forest Department has once again urged the Central government to declare wild boars as vermin, specifically requesting such a declaration for at least six months in villages with a high incidence of wild boar attacks.

Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran reiterated these demands in a letter to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Key requests include amending the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 to prevent human-wildlife conflict and declaring the wild boar as vermin.

The Minister’s renewed appeal comes in light of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change itself acknowledging that the central Wildlife Protection Act limits the powers of the Chief Wildlife Warden in preventing attacks by wild animals entering human settlements.

Earlier, on June 6, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest and Wildlife Department had appealed to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (Wildlife Division) to amend the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act to be more current. They also requested simplification of existing rules, procedures, protocols, guidelines, and advisories for dealing with aggressive wild animals. However, in response, the Union Ministry stated in a letter dated June 11, 2025, that hunting any wild animal listed in Schedule I and II is prohibited by law, except in certain extraordinary circumstances.

The central ministry’s response informed the state that, as per the central law, the Chief Wildlife Warden must first take action to capture, tranquilize, or relocate an aggressive wild animal. Only if these measures are not feasible, and under unavoidable circumstances, is the Chief Wildlife Warden authorized to order the killing of the animal.

In his letter to the Union Minister, Saseendran highlighted that such impractical procedures and restrictions prevent the Chief Wildlife Warden from taking effective action in critical situations, thereby failing to mitigate conflicts. The letter also pointed out the ambiguity of the term “aggressive animal” used in the law and requested its clear definition.

Kerala has also requested that the funds allocated by the Central government for preventive measures to address human-wildlife conflict are insufficient. The state has sought special financial assistance to implement its proposed plan worth ₹620 crore.