**Summary:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) addressed the issue of human-wildlife conflict in a parliamentary response on July 24, 2025. Section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, empowers State Chief Wild Life Wardens to manage such conflicts. The Ministry has urged the Government of Kerala to utilize these provisions.
Key steps taken by the government to protect wildlife and address human-animal conflicts include:
* Establishing a network of Protected Areas (National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves) nationwide under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, to conserve wildlife and habitats.
* Providing financial assistance to States and Union Territories under Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Development of Wildlife Habitats and Project Tiger and Elephant, supporting activities such as constructing physical barriers (solar-powered electric fences, biofencing, boundary walls) to prevent wild animals from entering crop fields.
* Issuing an advisory in February 2021 recommending coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hotspots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review ex-gratia relief, and expedited payments.
* Issuing guidelines on June 3, 2022, to States and Union Territories on managing Human-Wildlife conflict, including crop damage.
* Issuing species-specific guidelines on March 21, 2023, for dealing with human-wildlife conflict situations.
* Utilizing the regulatory functions provided by the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 to deal with conflict situations.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and conservation.
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: An Indian law providing a framework for the protection of wild animals and plants.
State Chief Wild Life Warden: A state-level authority empowered under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 to manage human-wildlife conflict.
Government of Kerala: The state government of Kerala, India, to whom the Ministry has made a request regarding the Wild Life Protection Act.
National Park: A type of protected area established under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 for wildlife conservation.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes Development of Wildlife Habitats: A central government initiative providing financial assistance to states and union territories for wildlife habitat management.
Project Tiger: A centrally sponsored scheme for the conservation of tigers in India.
Project Elephant: A centrally sponsored scheme for the conservation of elephants in India.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Parliament Question:- Threat to human life and
property by wild animals
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 4:02PM by PIB Delhi
Section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the State Chief Wild Life Warden for
management of human wildlife conflict situations. The Ministry has requested the Government of Kerala to
consider utilizing the provisions contained in section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The important steps taken by Government for protection of wildlife and to address human-animal conflicts
include the following:
i. A network of Protected Areas namely viz., National Park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and
Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country
under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their
habitats.
ii. The Central Government 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 schemes include construction/erection of physical barriers such as
solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals
into crop fields.
iii. An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the Ministry in February
2021. The Advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict
hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams,
formation of State and District level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, and
issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments etc.
iv. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also issued Guidelines to State
rd
Governments and Union Territory Administrationson 3 June, 2022 on managing Human
Wildlife conflict including damage to crops.
v. The Ministry has also issued species-specific guidelines to deal with human-wildlife conflict
situations on 21.03.2023.
vi. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human
wildlife conflict situations.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST
AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya
Sabha today.
***
VM/GS
(Release ID: 2147753)