Why does Kerala want the Centre to amend the Wildlife Protection Act?

Why does Kerala want the Centre to amend the Wildlife Protection Act?

Context- On Wednesday, February 14, the Kerala Legislative Assembly collectively approved a resolution. This resolution appeals to the Union Government to modify certain parts of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The aim is to tackle the growing issue of human-animal conflict in the state.

Demand to amend section on hunting

• Section 11 of the 1972 Act allows the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of a state to permit hunting or killing of certain wild animals that pose a threat to human life or are beyond recovery due to disease or disability.
• Kerala proposes to amend this section to transfer these powers from the CWLW to the Chief Conservators of Forests (CCF).
• The state believes this change would streamline procedures for managing dangerous wild animals by facilitating quicker decisions at a more localized level. Kerala has five CCFs, each overseeing a different region of the state.

Demand to declare wild boar as vermin

• Kerala is urging the Central Government to classify wild boars as vermin under section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act. This section allows the Union Government to designate any animal protected from hunting (listed in Schedule II of the Act) as vermin for a certain period in a specific area or state.
• When an animal is declared vermin, it signifies a threat to life and crops. This declaration would remove the hunting protection for wild boars, allowing the state and its citizens to control the wild boar population, which is currently a threat to life and livelihood.

An escalating crisis

• Kerala has been experiencing an increase in human-animal conflicts, impacting both human life and the agricultural sector. A significant incident involved a radio-collared wild elephant causing a fatality in Wayanad.
• In 2022-23, there were 8,873 recorded wild animal attacks, leading to 98 deaths, with elephants causing the majority of these fatalities. From 2017 to 2023, wild animal raids resulted in 20,957 incidents of crop loss and the death of 1,559 domestic animals.
• Wild boars are particularly destructive to farmland. In 2022, Kerala authorized local bodies to use licensed shooters to control the wild boar population. However, this measure was ineffective due to a lack of licensed shooters and bureaucratic delays involving the forest department.
• As a result, Kerala is advocating for wild boars to be classified as vermin, which would allow local communities to manage the problem directly.

Wildlife Protection Act 2022

The Wildlife Protection Act of 2022 has several key features:

1. Implementation of CITES Provisions: The Act implements the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
2. Central Government Authority: The Act empowers the Central Government to designate a Management Authority, which grants export or import permits for the trade of specimens. The Central Government can also regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species.
3. Conservation Reserves: The Central Government may notify a conservation reserve, which typically acts as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.
4. Reduction of Schedules: The Act reduces the number of schedules from six to four. The new schedules are as follows¹:
   • Schedule I: Animal species that enjoy the highest level of protection.
   • Schedule II: Animal species that are subject to a lesser degree of protection.
   • Schedule III: Protected Plant species.
   • Schedule IV: Specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens).
5. Control of Sanctuaries: The Act entrusts the Chief Wildlife Warden with the control, management, and maintenance of all sanctuaries in a state.
6. Registration Certificate for Live Specimens: People possessing live specimens of scheduled animals must obtain a registration certificate from the Management Authority.
7. Voluntary Surrender of Captive Animals: The Act provides for any person to voluntarily surrender any captive animals, without any compensation and consequent authority over the animal.
8. Exception for ‘Live Elephant’: The Act allows for Commercial Trade In Live Elephants.
9. Protection of Endangered Species: The Act seeks to enhance punishment for illegal Wildlife trade.
10. Better Management of Protected Areas: It provides for certain permitted activities like grazing or movement of livestock and Bonafide use of drinking and household water by local communities.
11. Protection of Forest Lands: It is so critical because it equally inculcates in itself the protection of rights of the people who have been residing there since ages.
12. The Bill also enhances the penalties prescribed for violation of provisions of the Act.

Conclusion- The escalating human-animal conflict in Kerala has led to a call for amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The proposed changes aim to decentralize decision-making power, allowing quicker, more localized responses to threats posed by wild animals. Furthermore, the state is advocating for the classification of wild boars as vermin, which would enable more effective control of their population.

These measures reflect the urgent need for adaptive and responsive wildlife management strategies that balance the protection of wildlife with human safety and livelihood. The success of these proposed amendments could set a precedent for other regions facing similar challenges.