**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to a parliamentary query regarding crop damage by peacocks, to be answered on December 15, 2025. It addresses government awareness, control measures, compensation for affected farmers, and assessment of damage in Tamil Nadu. The management of wildlife-related conflicts primarily falls under the responsibility of the respective State Government/Union Territory Administration.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Wildlife Management Responsibility:**
* The management of wildlife, including the mitigation of human-animal conflicts, is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration, who are the first responders.
* The Ministry does not collate information regarding crop damage incidences by wildlife at the national level.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations through centrally sponsored schemes for wildlife and habitat management.
* Supported activities include early warning systems and construction of physical barriers to prevent wild animals from entering crop fields.
* **Compensation and Depredation:**
* The Ministry supports compensation for depredation by wild animals, including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property.
* **Tamil Nadu Specific Information:**
* Peacocks are present in all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu.
* Crop damage by peacocks occurs, but they also benefit farmers by reducing pests.
* A scientific study by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, through SACON, has been conducted on peacock populations and crop depredation.
* Jurisdictional forest officials are deputed to affected areas to assess damage and take suitable action for compensation upon receiving information from the public and farmers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
*Stakeholders: Farmers Affected by Peacock Crop Damage*
* Farmers may experience crop damage due to peacocks.
* Farmers benefit from peacocks reducing pests in their crops.
* Farmers can report crop damage to jurisdictional forest officials.
**Action Required**
* Report crop damage to jurisdictional forest officials to initiate assessment and potential compensation.
**Impact**
*Stakeholders: State Government/Union Territory Administrations*
* Responsible for managing wildlife and mitigating human-animal conflicts.
* Serve as the first responder in Human Wildlife Conflict situations.
* Can receive financial assistance from the Ministry for wildlife management and habitat development.
**Action Required**
* Effectively manage wildlife and mitigate human-animal conflicts within their jurisdiction.
* Utilize financial assistance provided by the Ministry for wildlife management activities, including early warning systems and physical barriers.
* Assess and provide compensation for crop damage by wild animals.
**Impact**
*Stakeholders: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change*
* Provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for wildlife and habitat management.
**Action Required**
* Continue to provide financial assistance and oversight for wildlife management programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for addressing the issue of crop damage by peacocks.
Tamil Nadu: The state where crop damage by peacocks is specifically being assessed.
Development of Wildlife Habitats: A centrally sponsored scheme that provides financial assistance for wildlife management and mitigation of human-animal conflicts.
Project Tiger and Elephant: A centrally sponsored scheme that provides financial assistance for management of wildlife and its habitat.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2489
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Crop Damage by Peacocks
2489. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that Peacocks are causing distress to farmers by
damaging their crops and foodgrains;
(b) the steps taken by the Department of Wildlife to control the movement of Peacocks in
Agricultural fields;
(c) whether the Government is considering to give compensation to farmers who are affected
by peacocks;
(d) whether the Government proposes to take details from the State Governments to assess the
damage caused by peacocks, especially in the State of Tamil Nadu particularly in the
districts of Erode, Karur, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Salem, Krishnagiri; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) Incidences of crop damage due to wildlife are reported from different part of country
from time to time. However, the management of wildlife including mitigation of human-animal
conflicts is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory
Administration. The State Government/Union Territory Administration is the first responder
in Human Wildlife Conflict situations. The information regarding such incidences are not
collated at the level of Ministry.
The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’
and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The
activities supported under the scheme include procurement of early warning systems,
construction and erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fence, solar, powered electric
fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields,
compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life
and property.
As per the information received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the presence of
peacocks has been recorded in all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu. Some level of crop damage in
agricultural fields does occur due to peacocks; however, they also benefit farmers and their
crops by reducing rats, insects, worms, etc. A scientific study has been conducted by the Tamil
Nadu Forest Department through the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History
(SACON) on the population status of peacocks in selected locations of Tamil Nadu, evaluationof crop depredation by peacocks, human–peacock interactions, and exploration of suitable
measures to mitigate crop damage. Further, upon receiving information from the public and
farmers, the jurisdictional forest officials are being deputed to the affected areas to assess the
damage and take suitable action for compensation.
*****