Lok Sabha Question No. 2357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-01
Subject: Wild Animal Attacks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2357

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2022

## Wild Animal Attacks

## 2357.   DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the loss of life of human being and their properties due to the often repeated attacks of wild animals who cross the forests and trespass to the human habitats in Kerala;
- (b) if  so,  whether the Government will take necessary steps to undo this tragic situation to save humans from the attack of all kinds of wild animals by protecting them in the forests themselves and preventing their entry to the places of human in-habitations; and
- (c) whether the Government will bring necessary legal measures for the same?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Incidences of wild animal attacks and crop loss due to wild animals have been reported from various parts of the country including the state of Kerala.
- (b) and (c) The steps taken by Government for protection of wildlife and management of human-wildlife conflict include the following:
- i. A network of  Protect  Areas  namely  viz.  National  Parks,  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 States/Union Territories under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant 'for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country.

The activities supported under the scheme inter-alia include construction/erection  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, 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, issuing guidance/instructions for  expedited  payments,  and  provision  of  adequate  funds  for  suitable portion  of  ex-gratia  relief  to  be  paid  within  24  hours  to  the  affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
- iv. The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  also issued  Guidelines  to  States/Union  Territorieson  3 rd June,  2022  on managing  Human  Wildlife  conflict  including  damage  to  crops.  It includes promotion of crops in forest fringe areas which are unpalatable to  wild  animals,  agro  forestry  models  which  include  cash  crops  like chillies,  lemon  grass,  khus  grass  etc.  suitably  mixed  with  tree/shrub species. It also includes preparation and implementation of comprehensive  long-term  plan  for  alternate  cropping  by  the  state Agriculture/Horticulture Department under different schemes in vulnerable areas.
- v. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.

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