Overview

• The state cabinet resolved to seek Union government permission to kill wild animals after declaring human-wildlife conflict a state-specific disaster
• Kerala Congress leaders accuse the LDF government of exploiting the issue for electoral gain, misleading the public despite existing culling provisions
• A Union Forest Ministry letter dated April 3 confirms the State Chief Wildlife Warden has authority under sections 11(i)(a) and 11(i)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act to hunt, kill or capture species that threaten life or agriculture
• Officials have been directed to consult the Law Secretary on drafting necessary amendments, extend current culling guidelines for another year and delegate kill authorisations to Honorary Wildlife Wardens
• Fatal encounters have surged this year, including three elephant attack deaths in four days at Wayanad and a Farmers’ Relief Forum hartal in protest of rising wildlife assaults