Kerala, the land known for its scenic beauty, fertile soil, and harmonious coexistence with nature, is today witnessing an alarming conflict between man and beast. What was once a picture of balance between agricultural abundance and biodiversity has turned into a tale of fear and frustration. The lush hills, once cultivated by farmers in pursuit of food and livelihood, now echo with the cries of distress as wild animals invade farmlands, destroy crops, and threaten human lives. The debate has now reached a critical point should only wildlife be protected while those who feed the nation suffer in silence?
The Forest and Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, originally enacted to safeguard India’s precious biodiversity, has over the years become a source of pain for thousands of farmers living in the shadow of forests. The Act offers strict protection to several species of animals, including elephants, leopards, and wild boars. Unfortunately, these same animals have become frequent invaders of agricultural land. As the forests shrink and food within them diminishes, these creatures move towards human settlements. But when they destroy crops or attack humans, the law protects the animals not the people. For the farming community, this imbalance feels like a betrayal. Those who once saw wildlife as part of their ecosystem now see them as agents of destruction, and themselves as victims of a rigid law.
In light of the escalating conflict, the Kerala State Cabinet has recently proposed a crucial amendment to the existing Forest and Wildlife Act. The aim is to bring balance between conservation and the protection of human life and property. The amendment empowers the Chief Wildlife Warden to issue warrants authorizing the killing or capture of certain animals categorized as pests under Schedule II of the Central Act. Such authorization can be given based on reports submitted by the District Collector or the Chief Conservator of Forests, and only in situations where the animal poses a direct threat to humans or causes extensive damage to crops and property.
Importantly, the new provision allows for the declaration of certain species as “vermin” for a period of six months in conflict-affected regions. This would enable regulated culling, ensuring that animals responsible for large-scale destruction can be controlled legally and scientifically.
However, the amendment is not without controversy. Legal experts argue that the state government’s power remains limited because the central law prevails over state legislation in matters of wildlife protection. Even if Kerala passes the amendment, it could face challenges in the Supreme Court, especially if environmental groups contest its validity. A similar situation arose during the debate over Kerala’s attempt to control the stray dog menace, where the central stance overshadowed state autonomy. The question, therefore, is whether Kerala can truly enforce a people-centric wildlife policy without inviting constitutional disputes.
Behind every policy and legal clause lies a story of loss, frustration, and survival. Between 2016 and 2023, Kerala recorded 909 human deaths and 7,492 serious injuries caused by wildlife attacks. In total, over 55,000 incidents were reported a staggering figure that highlights how severe the crisis has become. The financial loss to the agricultural sector is estimated to be in the thousands of crores, caused by the destruction of crops, livestock, and property.
The situation in Wayanad, Idukki, and Kannur districts paints a grim picture. Once known for their diverse crops and productive lands, these regions are now being slowly deserted by farmers. Crops like kappa (tapioca), chena (yam), kachil (greater yam), and vazha (banana) have been completely abandoned in many forest-border areas. Government-installed solar fencing meant to deter animals has been repeatedly damaged and rendered useless. In Katana Saliyam Moolam, farmers have given up even rubber cultivation, unable to recover from constant losses.
The fear that once surrounded wild boars and monkeys has now multiplied as elephants, bison, and leopards move deeper into human habitations. Farmers who rise at dawn to tend their fields now live in constant anxiety. Nights are sleepless, as herds of elephants can destroy months of hard labor in just one hour. The irony, they say, is cruel the animals that kill people are protected by law, while the farmers who try to defend their land are punished.
The human-wildlife conflict is no longer confined to remote villages. It has spread across Kerala, affecting areas that were once considered safe. A detailed survey identified 273 gram panchayats in 75 Assembly constituencies as conflict-affected, with 30 panchayats listed as high-risk hotspots. These include Mananthavadi, Sultan Bathery, Kuttanpuzha, Mankulam, Noolpuzha, Panamaram, Thavinjal, Thirunelli, and Idimanal, all of which have witnessed recurring attacks and severe agricultural losses.
Other areas such as Agali, Aralam, Aryankavu, Kelakam, Kottiyur, Payyavoor, Meenangadi, and Pulpally have also reported increasing wildlife intrusion. Here, farmers have replaced traditional crops with less profitable varieties or left their land fallow altogether. Once-thriving agricultural regions now bear the marks of desolation, as fear grips communities living near forest borders.
Wildlife experts warn that Kerala could soon face an ecological imbalance similar to those seen in other parts of India. The overpopulation of certain species, like elephants and wild boars, has disrupted forest hierarchies. When animals lose territorial battles within the jungle, they escape into human settlements for safety creating a chain reaction of conflict.
According to expert committees, unscientific development is one of the main causes of human-wildlife conflict. Roads cut through forest corridors, blocking migration routes. Agricultural expansion into forest edges and grazing by domestic cattle inside reserves further escalate the competition for food and space. In many estates bordering forests, undergrowth has not been cleared for decades, allowing wild animals to hide and reproduce unchecked.
While environmentalists advocate for coexistence, the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has maintained a passive stance. The ministry continues to emphasize protection, but fails to address the needs of those living on the frontlines of this conflict. Frustrated by the Centre’s inaction, states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra have amended parts of the 1972 Act to enable limited state intervention a model Kerala is now studying closely.
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, defines all animals listed in Schedules I and II as wild, regardless of where they are found. The Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act, 2022, further condensed the number of schedules from six to two, merging the section on vermin (hunting permits) into Schedule II. This restructuring has made it even harder for states to independently declare animals as pests or authorize their culling.
Under the current law, animals in Schedule I cannot be hunted or traded under any circumstances. For Schedule II species, permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden is required, but only when there is a clear threat to human life or property. Even then, such permissions are rarely granted, due to bureaucratic delays and fear of backlash from conservation groups.
As a result, the farmers’ plea for protection often drowns in paperwork. They argue that while the law protects animals with zeal, it offers little recourse for humans who bear the brunt of the consequences.
The farming community insists that their struggle is not against wildlife conservation but against its unbalanced execution. Farmers are not asking for free hunting rights or mass culling. Instead, they demand:
• Fair and timely compensation for losses caused by wild animals.
• Quick response systems to remove or tranquilize dangerous animals before they attack.
• Scientific population control, including sterilization and relocation of certain species.
• Amendments to the law that give states more autonomy to handle regional wildlife issues.
• A Kerala-specific legal model, similar to Tamil Nadu’s Jallikattu precedent, that acknowledges local cultural and environmental contexts.
Several international models show how a balance can be achieved. In Australia, for example, even the iconic kangaroo is subject to controlled hunting during specific seasons to prevent overpopulation. Kerala’s farmers believe a similar scientific and region-based system could help protect both nature and livelihood.
Today, Kerala’s farmers stand on the edge of despair. For them, every crop is a gamble against nature’s unpredictability and the rigidity of the law. They wake each morning to inspect what remains of their hard work, often finding trampled paddy fields, uprooted tubers, or dead livestock.
Their question is painfully simple Should only wildlife be protected?
If the law can fiercely defend a tusker that destroys acres of farmland, can it not extend the same protection to the farmer who grows food for millions? Conservation, they argue, must not come at the cost of human survival.
“We plant gold in the soil,” says a farmer from Wayanad, his voice filled with both pride and pain. “We don’t ask for weapons or power. We only ask that the government guard our lives and our crops with the same care it gives the forests.”
True conservation cannot thrive on conflict. It must be built on coexistence one that acknowledges the rights of both humans and animals. The need of the hour is a balanced policy that values biodiversity without sacrificing human dignity.
Kerala’s farmlands, rich in culture and sustenance, are waiting for justice. The hills that once sang with the rhythm of harvest now echo with the cry for survival. As the state deliberates on its new bill, the nation watches hoping that Kerala will lead the way in crafting a future where both man and wildlife can live, not in fear, but in harmony.