Parliament Question: Human-Wildlife Conflict Hotspots

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 Human-Wildlife Conflict Hotspots

1221. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) hotspots identified in the State of Kerala under National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC- NAP) district-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken measures to mitigate conflict in the hotspots;

(c) the details of the Early Warning and Rapid Response System established at HWC hotspots in Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency, including technologies deployed and ground-based alert mechanisms;

(d) whether additional financial or technical assistance is being provided to the States facing high HWC, particularly in critical landscapes like Wayanad, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government is developing any new or upgraded early warning systems for detection and mitigation of HWC, and if so, the details thereof along with pilot projects and timelines for implementation; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure real-time data sharing and coordination between neighbouring States for the management of wildlife corridors and movement across administrative boundaries, especially in Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (f) 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.

As per the information received from the State Government of Kerala, Human-Wildlife Conflicts has been declared as a “State- Specific Disaster” in Kerala vide GO(Ms.) No. 4/2024/DMD dated 07/03/2024 for effective management of mitigation activities with inter-departmental efforts.

Accordingly, in 2024 itself, 271 Panchayaths / Municipalities in 12 Landscapes have been identified as Human-Wildlife Conflict areas. Among these Panchayaths/ Municipalities, 30 have been identified as HWC hotspots. The list of these 30 hotspots are placed at Annexure-I.

As per the information received from the state three Rapid Response Teams have been deployed in Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts in the area viz.,Sulthan Bathery (Wayanad District), Mananthavady (Wayanad District) and Nilambur (Malappuram District). In addition to this, Satellite RRTs are also deployed at Kalpetta and Meppadi (Wayanad District). In Periya Range of North Wayanad Division, AI powered Perimeter Intrusion Detection System and Early Warning System (smart-fencing) has been installed on an experimental basis, which is found effective. The innovative system utilizes Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, wherein an optical fiber network (stretched over 10 km) detects vibrations caused by moving wildlife. Drone and thermal camera based monitoring and early detection systems are also deployed in the forest areas, with special emphasis to the HWC hot-spots. To monitor wildlife crossing state borders and sharing information, and to effectively manage human-wildlife conflict situations, Inter-State Coordination Committee has been formed among the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Minister level meetings and Secretary level meetings of the Inter-State Coordination Committee were conducted during 2024 and MoU for cooperation and information exchange has been signed between Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on 10.03.2024 at Bandipur, Karnataka.

Further, the Government has undertaken several key measures to address human–wildlife conflict.

(i) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended to accord statutory status to management plans of Protected Areas, ensuring Gram Sabha consultations.

(ii) The Section 11 (1) (a) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowers the State Chief Wild Life Wardens to grant permits for hunting animals falling in Schedule I of the Act, which become dangerous to human life. Further, the Section 11 (1) (b) of the Act empowers State Chief Wild Life Warden or any authorized officer to grant permits for hunting of wild animals falling under Schedule-II of the Act, if such animals have become dangerous to human life or property.

(iii) A robust network of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves has been established across the country for habitat protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

(iv) An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the Ministry on 6th February, 2021. The Ministry has also issued Guidelines to States/UTs on 3rd June 2022 to manage Human Wildlife conflict. Species-specific mitigation guidelines for key conflict-prone species, as well as cross-cutting advisories on media engagement, occupational safety, crowd management and emergency response, have also been issued, along with a Field Manual on Human–Elephant Conflict Management and Guidelines on eco-friendly measures for linear infrastructure.

(v) Focused conservation support is provided for 24 critically endangered species under the Species Recovery Programme under the scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’.

(vi) Financial assistance is extended to States/UTs under the schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ for conflict mitigation measures such as early warning systems, physical barriers, compensation for loss of life, livestock and crops, and deployment of Rapid Response Teams. The Ministry enhanced ex-gratia relief for death or permanent incapacitation from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh in December 2023, with other compensation norms for injuries and property/crop damage as per State guidelines. Advanced technologies including radio-collaring, digital sensor walls and e-surveillance are increasingly used in conflict mitigation.(vii) The Ministry also supports States in awareness generation, training and capacity- building programmes, and Forest Departments work closely with local communities for vigilance, early alerts and public sensitization. A Centre of Excellence for Human–Wildlife Conflict Management has been established at SACON, Coimbatore.

(viii) Further, 32 major tiger corridors and 150 elephant corridors have been identified by NTCA, WII and the Ministry to ensure secure wildlife movement, and Regional Action Plans are being prepared with States/UTs for long-term conservation and conflict reduction in these landscapes.

*****Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) and (f) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.

1221 due for reply on 08.12.2025 regarding “Human-Wildlife Conflict Hotspots” The list of these 30 hotspot Panchayaths / Municipalities are listed below Sl. Risk Management Name of management District No. Category type unit 1 Very High Municipality Mananthavady Wayanad 2 Sulthan Bathery Wayanad 3 Panchayath Kuttampuzha Ernakulam 4 Mankulam Idukki 5 Noolpuzha Wayanad 6 Panamaram Wayanad 7 Thavinhal Wayanad 8 Thirunelly Wayanad 9 Thondernad Wayanad 10 High Panchayath Agali Palakakd 11 Aralam Kannur 12 Ariencavu Kollam 13 Ayyampuzha Ernakulam 14 Kanthalloor Idukki 15 Kelakam Kannur 16 Kodassery Thrissur 17 Koovappady Ernakulam 18 Kottappady Ernakulam 19 Kottiyoor Kannur 20 Kulathupuzha Kollam 21 Meenangadi Wayanad 22 Mullamkolly Wayanad 23 Payyavoor Kannur 24 Peringammala Thiruvananthapuram 25 Pindimana Ernakulam 26 Poothadi Wayanad 27 Pulpally Wayanad 28 Sholayar Palakakd 29 Vellamunda Wayanad 30 Vengoor Ernakulam *****