Kerala CM calls ministerial meet on Feb. 20 to chart out human-wildlife conflict resolution measures in Wayanad

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on February 17 (Saturday) ordered a high-level ministerial meeting in Wayanad on February 20 to finalise real-time and proactive measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the hilly district in Kerala

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on February 17 (Saturday) ordered a high-level ministerial meeting in Wayanad on February 20 to finalise real-time and proactive measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the hilly district in Kerala with an estimated 36.5% forest cover.

Back-to-back deaths in wild elephant attacks, including that of an eco-tourism guide, Paul, 52, on February 16, had forced beleaguered residents, a majority of them from settler farmer families, to observe a hartal in Wayanad on Saturday.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued the communique against the backdrop of largely politically bipartisan protests against the Forest department for allegedly not doing enough to protect the lives and property of citizens from increasing wildlife incursions into human habitations.

The CMO said Revenue, Forest, and Local Self-Governments Ministers would chair the meeting. Elected representatives in Wayanad district would participate in the conference.

Earlier, the Kerala government had announced the use of aerial drones, electronic sensors, radio collaring, public announcements and WhatsApp groups to notify residents in advance about wildlife intrusions. It also suggested digging moats and setting up electric and bio-fences to impede wildlife. The government had also warned forest resort owners against strewing food to attract wildlife for the benefit of guests.

The administration also announced the creation of a round-the-clock control room backed by rapid response teams involving police and forest officials to insulate residential areas from wildlife forays. Kerala was in close coordination with neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with which the State shares contiguous forests.

Last week, a wild elephant had chased a passerby, Ajeesh, 48, into a house in Wayanad in and trampled him to death, stoking public outrage that spilt onto the streets and choked interstate traffic for the better part of a day.