Lok Sabha Question No. 273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Wild Animal Attacks on Tribals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 273 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## Wild Animal Attacks on Tribals

## 273.     SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

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

- (a) whether the  Government is aware of the increasing incidents of wild animal  intrusions endangering  the  lives  of  tribal  residents  in  the  Navamalai  hamlet  located  within  the Anaimalai forest region in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Central Government, in coordination with the State Government, to ensure  safety,  habitat  protection  and  access  to  essential  services  for  forest-dwelling communities facing such threats;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  national-level  scheme  or  guidelines  for relocation  or  rehabilitation  of  tribal  communities  affected  by  human-wildlife  conflicts, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones; and
- (d) the details of financial or technical assistance provided to Tamil Nadu under any Central or Centrally Sponsored Scheme for ensuring safe housing and sustainable livelihoods for such affected tribal groups from wild animal threats?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d)   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/Union Territory Administration  is the first  responder  in  Human Wildlife  Conflict situations.  As informed by the State of Tamil Nadu,  Navamalai hamlet is an enclave located in the core zone, Pollachi Range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi Division. There are 33 numbers of househoild from the Malasar Tribal community occupying the revenue Poromboke land. The area is surrounded by the reserve forest on three sides and Aliyar dam water on another side. Since this revenue area is located in the core zone, there has been regular wildlife movement throughout the year across the Navamalai though the increase in human wildlife conflict in Navamalai hamlet was not observed.

Rehabilitation and Resettlement of affected communities is done by the State Governments and the process of village relocation from core/ critical tiger habitat of tiger reserve is a voluntary process as per Section 38 V (5) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored  Schemes  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant'  for management of  wildlife  and  its  habitat  in  the  country.  The  activities  supported  also  includes, habitat  management,  eco-development,  voluntary  village  relocation  etc.,  procurement  of  early warning systems, construction and erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fence, solar, powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields, compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property.