Executive Summary:
This document contains the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, addressing human-animal conflicts, compensation for victims, and related measures. It includes data on human deaths due to tiger and elephant attacks over the last five years and discusses actions taken under the existing Act. The response clarifies the Ministry's position on amending the Act and declaring wild pigs as vermin.
Key Points / Main Content:
Human-Wildlife Conflict and Compensation:
* Incidents of human-wildlife conflicts, including in Kerala, have been reported.
* Compensation for victims varies by State/UT.
* Enhanced ex-gratia relief norms under centrally sponsored schemes (since 2023):
* Death/permanent incapacitation: Rs. 10.00 lakh
* Grievous injury: Rs. 2.00 lakh
* Minor injury: Cost of treatment up to Rs. 25,000
* Loss of property/crops: As per State/UT norms
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 - Implementation and Amendments:
* The Act empowers State/UTs to appoint wildlife officials.
* Section 11(1) allows Chief Wild Life Warden to manage conflicts involving Schedule I species.
* For Schedule II species posing a threat, the Chief Wild Life Warden can permit hunting.
* The Ministry does not collate details of management interventions by States/UTs.
* Holistic advisories and guidelines, including species-specific guidelines, have been issued to States/UTs.
* State Level Coordination Committees monitor conflicts and guide departments.
* No current proposal to amend the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
* Section 11 (1)b allows for site-specific management of Schedule II species.
Data on Human Deaths Due to Animal Attacks:
* Annexure I provides state-wise and year-wise data on human deaths due to tiger attacks from 2020-2024.
* Annexure II provides state-wise and year-wise data on human deaths due to elephant attacks from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments and Union Territory Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for managing human-wildlife conflict, disbursing compensation, appointing wildlife officials, and implementing the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
* Action Required: Implement advisories and guidelines, form State Level Coordination Committees, adhere to compensation norms, and manage wildlife populations according to the Act.
Victims of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Their Families:
* Impact: Affected by injuries, death, or loss of property due to wild animal attacks.
* Action Required: Seek compensation as per the enhanced norms, subject to State/UT government procedures.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and provides guidance to States/UTs.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring human-wildlife conflict, providing support to States/UTs, and evaluating the effectiveness of existing measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: A national legislation in India focused on wildlife conservation and protection. The policy document discusses proposed amendments and its existing provisions related to human-animal conflict.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental and forestry policies, including those related to wildlife and human-animal conflict.
Kerala: A state in India that has requested amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, due to human-wildlife conflict and is mentioned in the context of compensation and animal-related deaths.
Chief Wildlife Warden: An official appointed by State Governments and Union Territory Administrations who is empowered under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 to manage human-wildlife conflict situations.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the unstarred question related to amendments in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 was raised.
Project Tiger and Elephant: Centrally Sponsored Schemes under which ex gratia relief is provided in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attacks.
Assam: A state in India where human deaths due to attacks by tigers and elephants have been reported.
Maharashtra: A state in India where human deaths due to attacks by tigers and elephants have been reported.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 34
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Amendment in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
34. SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL:
SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:
SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:
SHRI ANTO ANTONY:
ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the serious issue of human-animal
conflicts/wild animal attacks in the country and if so, the details of the people
injured/died, agricultural loss along with the compensation awarded to victim’s
family during the last five years in the country, State-wise including Kerala;
(b) whether despite of the Life Protection Act that enables certain officials not below the
rank of Chief Wildlife Warden to order the killing of wild animals that poses threat
to human life, the said provisions are not being used for human safety and if so, the
details thereof;
(c) the number of wild animals that pose a threat to human life killed or transported to
deep forest during the last five years in Kerala
(d) the details of steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that such
animals are killed;
(e) the details of the proposals/requests received from various States to amend the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972, along with the action plan of the Government thereon;
(f) the future plan of Government to declare the wild pig as vermin for human safety;
and
(g) whether the Government proposes to convene a meeting of the State Forest Ministers
to review the severeness of the issue and prepare a National Plan to resolve the
human-animal conflicts and if so, the details thereof
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Incidences of human-wildlife conflicts have been reported from various parts of
the country including from the state of Kerala. As per the information received
from the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, the details of
human deaths over the last five years due to attacks by tigers and elephants are
provided at Annexure-I and Annexure-II. The details of compensation provided
to victims of human-wildlife conflict varies in State Governments and UnionTerritory Administration. However, the Ministry has enhanced the norms of ex-
gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal
attacks under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes – ‘Development of Wildlife
Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ since 2023, which is given below:
Sl. Nature of damage caused by Amount of ex-gratia relief
wild animals
i. Death or permanent Rs.10.00 lakh
incapacitation
ii. Grievous injury Rs.2.00 lakh
iii. Minor injury Cost of treatment up to
Rs.25,000/-per person
iv. Loss of property/crops State/UT government may
adhere to the cost norms
prescribed by them.
(b) to (d) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowers the State Governments and
Union Territory Administrations for appointment of a Chief Wild Life Warden,
Wild Life Wardens and Honorary Wild Life Wardens, for the purpose of the
Act. Section 11(1) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the Chief
Wild Life Warden for management of human wildlife conflict situations
involving Schedule I listed species. In case of wild animals listed in Schedule
II of the Act have become dangerous to human life or to property (including
standing crops), Chief Wild Life Warden or any authorized officer is
empowered to grant permits for hunting of such wild animal or group of
animals.
Details of management interventions taken up by State Governments and
Union Territory Administrations in accordance with Section 11 of the Wild Life
(Protection) act, 1972 are not collated at the level of the Ministry.
The Ministry has issued holistic advisories and guidelines, including
species specific guidelines, to the State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations to deal with human–wildlife conflict situations. The guidelines
provide for constitution of State Level Co-ordination Committees. The mandate
of these committees include monitoring the human wildlife conflict cases and
their geographical spread, and provide guidance to different departments for
actions to be taken to minimise and prevent human wildlife conflict in those
areas.
(e), (f) and The Ministry has received a request from the State Government of Kerala
(g) seeking amendment to Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for management of
human wildlife conflict in the State. The Ministry has examined the matter. At
present, there is no proposal to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Further, provisions under Section 11 (1) (b) serves the purpose of site specific
management of the population of wild animals listed in Schedule II of the Act,
as well as maintain healthy ecosystem, as against generic declaration of such
species as vermin
***ANNEXURE -I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 34
due for reply on 21.07.2025 regarding “Amendment to Wildlife Protection Act, 1972”.
The details of human deaths during last five years due to tiger attacks, year-wise
and State-wise
S. State 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
No.
1 Assam 0 0 0 0 4
2 Bihar 1 4 9 1 2
3 Chhattisgarh 0 0 0 3 0
4 Karnataka 0 1 1 8 2
5 Kerala 2 1 1 1 1
6 Madhya Pradesh 11 2 3 10 6
7 Maharashtra 25 32 82 37 42
8 Tamil Nadu 1 3 0 1 0
9 Telangana 2 0 0 0 1
10 Uttar Pradesh 4 11 11 25 10
11 Uttarakhand 0 1 3 0 5
12 West Bengal 5 5 1 0 1
Total 51 60 111 86 74ANNEXURE-II
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 34
due for reply on 21.07.2025 regarding “Amendment to Wildlife Protection Act, 1972”.
The details of human deaths during last five years due to elephant attacks, year-wise
and State-wise
S.
State 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
No.
1 Andhra Pradesh 4 6 4 5 6
2 Arunachal Pradesh 0 2 2 0 0
3 Assam 75 91 63 80 74
4 Chhattisgarh 77 42 64 69 51
5 Jharkhand 84 74 133 96 87
6 Karnataka 30 26 27 29 48
7 Kerala 12 20 35 27 22
8 Maharashtra 1 0 0 2 5
9 Meghalaya 4 6 3 3 7
10 Nagaland 0 0 0 1 1
11 Odisha 117 93 112 148 154
12 Tamil Nadu 58 57 37 43 61
13 Tripura 2 1 2 2 1
14 Uttar Pradesh 6 1 0 4 4
15 Uttarakhand 9 13 12 4 8
16 West Bengal 116 47 77 97 99
Total 595 479 571 610 628
***