Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses Lok Sabha question No. 4134 regarding wild animal attacks, specifically in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. The response details steps taken by both the State and Central Governments to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, provide compensation to victims, and implement long-term protective measures. The information provided is based on data received from the Government of Maharashtra.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Chandrapur District Wild Animal Attacks:**
* 25 deaths and 108 injuries reported in the last seven months due to wild animal attacks.
* AI-enabled cameras and Primarily Response Action Teams have been established to prevent and address conflicts.
* Compensation is being provided to victims according to a Government Resolution dated 03.08.2023.
* Awareness drives and regular patrolling are conducted.
* Schemes like the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan Van Vikas Yojana are implemented.
* **Central Government Initiatives:**
* Creation of a network of Protected Areas under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
* Financial assistance provided to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under Centrally Sponsored Schemes for wildlife habitat development, Project Tiger, and Project Elephant. These schemes support physical barriers and ex gratia relief.
* Advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict issued in February 2021.
* Guidelines for managing human-wildlife conflicts, including crop damage, issued on June 3, 2022.
* Species-specific guidelines issued on March 21, 2023.
* Empowerment of State/UT Chief Wild Life Wardens, under Section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, to permit hunting of dangerous animals.
Impact Analysis:
* **Victims of Wild Animal Attacks:**
* *Impact:* Eligible for compensation and relief measures from the State Government of Maharashtra.
* *Action Required:* Apply for compensation through the established channels as per the Government Resolution dated 03.08.2023.
* **Government of Maharashtra:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, providing compensation, and conducting awareness programs.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing existing measures, ensure timely compensation disbursement, and enhance awareness campaigns.
* **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing guidance, financial assistance, and overall policy direction for wildlife protection and conflict mitigation.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide financial and technical support to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and update policies and guidelines as needed.
* **State/UT Chief Wild Life Wardens:**
* *Impact:* Empowered to grant permits for hunting dangerous animals under specific conditions.
* *Action Required:* Exercise authority under Section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 judiciously and in accordance with established guidelines.
* **Villagers in and around core areas:**
* *Impact:* Improved safety through Primary Response Action Teams.
* *Action Required:* Follow advisories given by field staff.
Key Entities Referenced
Chandrapur district of Maharashtra: District in Maharashtra, India, where human-wildlife conflict is occurring.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental and forest policies.
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Indian legislation providing for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants.
Government of Maharashtra: The state government of Maharashtra, responsible for local wildlife management.
Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve: A tiger reserve in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, near areas of human-wildlife conflict.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan Van Vikas Yojana: A scheme implemented by the Government of Maharashtra to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
Anugraha Sahayata Yojana: A financial assistance scheme announced for Chandrapur district for victims of wild animal attacks.
Project Tiger and Elephant: Centrally Sponsored Schemes for management of wildlife and its habitat including management of humanwildlife conflict in the country.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4134.
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Wild Animal Attacks
4134. SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that 25 persons were killed and many
were injured/disabled in attacks by wild animals in Chandrapur district of
Maharashtra during the last five months and if so, the reaction of the Government
thereto;
(b) the specific steps taken by the Government in coordination with the State
Government during the last three years to reduce human-wildlife conflict along with
the outcome and current status thereof;
(c) the policies of the Government to ensure timely and adequate financial assistance to
the victims of attacks by wild animals and the time by which new Anugraha
Sahayata Yojana announced for Chandrapur district is likely to come into effect; and
(d) the long-term measures being adopted by the Government to reduce conflict
between wild animals and humans in the settlements in the core zone areas of
Chandrapur district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) As per the information received from the State Government of Maharashtra, 25
persons were killed and 108 persons injured by wild animals in last seven months in
Chandrapur district.
In response to these events, the Government of Maharashtra has installed AI enabled
cameras for safety purposes to prevent human-wildlife conflict and established
Primarily Response Action Teams for swift action in the villages adjoining the core
area of the Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve. As per Government Resolution of the
Government of Maharashtra dated 03.08.2023, compensation is being provided to
the victims of attack by wild animals by the state of Maharashtra. Moreover, timelycompensation to the victims of Human Wildlife Conflict are being ensured and
awareness drives being conducted for stakeholders.
The Government of Maharashtra has also informed that field staff regularly patrol
areas surrounding the settlements, conduct ongoing awareness sessions with
villagers, and implement schemes such as the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan Van
Vikas Yojana to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The important steps taken by the Government of India for protection of wildlife and
to address human-animal conflicts in coordination with the State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations including the State of Maharashtra
are as 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/Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally
Sponsored Schemes, ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger
and Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitat including
management of human-wildlife conflict 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, payment of ex-
gratia relief to the victims of human-wildlife conflicts.
iii. An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the
Ministry in February 2021. The Ministry has also issued guidelines to State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations on 3rd June, 2022 on
managing human-wildlife conflicts including damage to crops.
iv. The Ministry has also issued species-specific guidelines to deal with human-
wildlife conflict situations on 21.03.2023.
v. The Section 11 (1) (a) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowers the
State/UT 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/UT 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.
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