Parliament Question: Declaration of wild animals as vermin

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 Declaration of wild animals as vermin 727. DR. JOHN BRITTAS: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the names and details of animals declared as Vermin by Government under Section 62 of the Wild Life Protection Act since 2021 till date, State-wise and year-wise; (b) the State wise details of loss of human lives, livestock and crops due to human-animal conflict during last five years and as on date; (c) whether Government will consider amending the Wild Life (Protection) Act suitably to include State Governments also to declare animals as vermin within their respective jurisdictions; and (d) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (b) No animal is declared as Vermin by Government under Section 62 of the Wild Life Protection Act since 2021. The State Government/Union Territory Administration is the first responder in Human Wildlife Conflict situations. The State-wise data regarding loss of human lives, livestock and crops is maintained at the State Government level. (c) to (d) 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. *****