Lok Sabha Question No. 2 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Management of Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## Management of Human-Wildlife Conflicts

## 2. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

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

- (a) the current status of human-wildlife conflicts in the country, including the number of reported incidents and economic losses incurred during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts,  including  any  specific  strategies  or  action  plans  implemented  in  this regard;
- (c) the details of the challenges faced in effectively managing human-wildlife conflicts, particularly in terms of resources and community engagement;
- (d) the role of local communities in conflict mitigation efforts and any programmes has been established to involve them; and
- (e) whether any measures taken/being taken to educate the communities about wildlife conservation and promote coexistence and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) Incidences of human-wildlife conflict have been reported from various parts of the country. Such data are not collated at the level of Ministry. The important steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  manage  and  mitigate  the  human-wildlife conflicts 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  for  its  expeditious  payments,  issuing guidance  and  instructions  for  expedited  relief  payments,  preferably within 24 hours to the affected persons, in the case of death and injury to persons.
- ii. The Ministry has also issued guidelines to States and UTs on 3 rd  June 2022 on managing human-wildlife conflicts including damage to crops. The guidelines advise  States/UTs to utilize the  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY). Uner the revamped operational guidelines of PMFBY, States/UTs may provide add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals. Further,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.
- iii. The Ministry has  also  issued  species-specific  guidelines  to  deal  with human-wildlife  conflict  situations  on  21.03.2023  for  mitigation  of Human Wildlife conflicts  involving  Elephant,  Gaur,  Leopard,  Snake, Crocodile, Rhesus Macaque, Wild Pig, Bear, Blue Bull and Blackbuck.
- iv. The Central Government provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger and Elephant' for management  of  wildlife  and  its  habitat  including  support  for  broad activities  like-compensation  for  depredation  by  wild  animals  and construction  of  physical  barriers  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields, capacity building and also provides ex gratia relief to the victims of human-wildlife conflicts. The  States/Union  Territories  make  ex-gratia  payments  for  loss  of livestock, crops and human life including injuries due to human-wildlife conflicts as per the norms, which vary from State to State.
- v. A  network  of  protected  areas  namely,  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.
- vi. The  Section  11  (1)  (a)  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972, empowers  the  State  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 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.
- vii. In accordance with provisions contained under Section 33 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Ministry has issued guidelines for the
- process of management planning for protected areas and other landscape elements.
- viii. The Ministry also provides capacity-building support to the officers and staff  of  State  Forest  Departments  through  institutions,  e.g.  Wildlife Institute  of  India-SACON for adoption  of early-warning  systems  and modern technologies.
- ix. Periodic awareness campaigns to sensitize guide and advise the general public on human-wildlife conflict, including dissemination of information  through  various  forms  of  media  is  carried  out  by  the respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.

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