Lok Sabha Question No. 5125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Attack by Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Ajay Nishad, Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5125

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Attack by Wild Animals

## 5125. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

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

- (a) the details of cases of deaths of humans and domestic animals along with the damage to  crops  reported  due  to  attack  by  wild  animals  during  the  last  five  years  and  the number  of  people  who  have  sought  compensation  for  said  death  of  humans  and domestic animals and also for damage done to the crops, State-wise;
- (b) the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (c) the present norms of compensation for the deaths of humans and domestic animals and the damage done to the crops due to attack by wild animals;
- (d) the details of animals listed under the category of predatory animals which destroys crops under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; and
- (e) the steps taken to protect wildlife and prevent/ reduce the loss caused to the human life and property as well as crops by the wild animals?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a), (b) and (c)

Protection  and  management  of  wildlife  and  human-wildlife  conflict  is primarily the responsibility of State Governments. Details of human deaths, loss of domestic animals and crops and compensation paid by the States are not compiled by the Ministry.

:

The Ministry provides financial and technical assistance to States to prevent and manage human-wildlife conflict. Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Development of Wildlife Habitats, funds are provided to States for  protection  and  management  of  wildlife  and  human-wildlife  conflict, including payment of ex gratia relief for loss of life or injury caused by wild animals.  The  amount  of  ex  gratia  relief  payable  under  the  scheme  is  as follows:

| S. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals           | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)      | Death or permanent incapacitation to human beings | Rs.5 lakh                                                    |
| (b)      | Grievous injury                                   | Rs. 2 lakh                                                   |
| (c)      | Minor injury                                      | Cost of treatment up to Rs 25000/-                           |
| (d)      | Loss of property/crops                            | States /UTs may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |

- (d) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 does not categorize any animal as predatory animal.
- (e) Some important  steps  taken  by  Government  for  protection  of  wildlife  and management of human-wildlife conflict are as follows:
- i. A network of Protected Areas covering important wildlife habitats 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 under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and human-wildlife conflict.
- iii. An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict was issued by the Ministry to all States/UTs 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 prompt payment of relief to affected persons.
- iv. The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  issued guidelines to States/UTs on 3 rd June, 2022 on preventing and managing human-wildlife conflict including crop damage caused by wild animals.
- v. The  Ministry provides support to State  Governments  to  organize awareness  generation,  training  and  capacity  building  programmes  on human-wildlife conflict.