Lok Sabha Question No. 213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Menace of Wild Boars
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 213

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## Menace of Wild Boars

## 213. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

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

- (a) the steps taken to address the growing menace of wild boars in the agricultural regions of Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Virudhunagar districts in the State of Tamil Nadu, which are causing extensive crop damage;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  considered  including  wild  boars  in  the  non-protected species list, as has been done in the State of Kerala, to enable better population control measures, such as culling or relocation, to mitigate the damage caused to crops in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the details of compensation and relief measures proposed for farmers who have suffered substantial  financial  losses  due  to  wild  boar  damage  to  their  crops  in  the  above  said districts;
- (d) the  measures taken by  the Government  to  ensure that  State authorities,  including  the Forest,  Revenue, and Agriculture departments, collaborate effectively to implement a long-term solution for managing the wild boar menace in Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) the details of immediate actions taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide protective measures in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) As informed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, following steps are taken to address human-wild pig conflicts in the districts of Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Virudhunagar:
- i. Monthly Farmer's grievance  day  meetings  are  conducted  to  address wildlife related issues.
- ii. Prompt  visits  by  the  forest  department  staff  at  the  sites  where  crop damage due to wild pigs is reported.
- iii. Speedy action for disposal of ex-gratia relief payments.
- (b) Wild pig is listed in the Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer in this behalf are empowered to permit any  person  to  hunt  any  wild  animal  specified  in  Schedule  II  which  has become dangerous to human life or property including crops.
- (c) As informed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, no cases of crop damage due wild pigs were reported from Sivaganga district during the last three years. An amount of Rs. 13.495 Lakhs and Rs. 5.383 Lakhs was paid as ex-gratia relief for the  crop  damages  caused  by  wild  pigs  in  Virudhunagar  and  Ramanathapuram districts respectively in the last three years.
- (d) and (e) The important steps taken by the Government to address human-animal conflicts in the country including the State of Tamil Nadu are as follows:
- i. 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.
- ii. The Ministry has also issued Guidelines to States/UTs during June, 2022 on managing Human Wildlife conflict including damage to crops.
- iii. Species specific guidelines for mitigation of conflicts arising from various wild animals including Wild Pig have been issued by the Ministry during March 2023.
- iv. Financial assistance is provided by the Ministry to the States/UTs under the Centrally  Sponsored  schemes  -  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats', 'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant'  for  various  interventions  including  animal proof  fencing,  anti-depredation  squads,  rapid  response  teams,  ex-gratia relief, technology based animal tracking etc.
- v. The Ministry provides support to State Governments to organize awareness generation, training and capacity building programmes on human-wildlife conflict.

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