Lok Sabha Question No. 1363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Increasing Incidents of Human-Wildlife Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Sunil Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1363

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Increasing Incidents of Human-Wildlife Conflict

1363. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is specially aware of the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is also aware of the elephant and tiger rampage in villages adjacent to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran district of Bihar;
- (c) the details of estimated number of such incidents reported during the last five years, yearwise;
- (d) whether compensation has been distributed to the affected families under the existing schemes of the Government, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the measures being taken or proposed by the Government to strengthen the security of forest border?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The  management  of  wildlife  including  mitigation  of  human-animal  conflicts  is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State Government/UT Administration are the first responders to any conflict situation and the state government maintains the details of the conflict along with the species involved. Such data is not collated at the level of the Ministry.

The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments  and Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger and Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. It includes compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property. Further, the Ministry enhanced the amount of ex-gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attacks in December 2023 from Rs. 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs  under  these  Schemes,  subject  to availability  of  funds,  and  the  payment  of  which  is  also governed by State specific guidelines/ provisions made in this regard.

The details are given in the table below:

| S. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                           |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| i.       | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs.10.00 lakhs                                                       |
| ii.      | Grievous injury                           | Rs.2.00 lakhs                                                        |
| iii.     | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000/- per person                       |
| iv.      | Loss of property/crops                    | State/UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed by them. |

As  per  the  information  received  from  the  State  the  important  measures  taken  by  the  State Government  to  strengthen  the  security  of  forest  border  include  awareness  program  for  local communities, monitoring of tigers and other co-predators apart from elephant on regular basis, creation of robust patrolling system, rescue and rehabilitation of conflict, solar fencing and creation of Rapid Rescue Team.

*****