The Government of India has announced that it has no plans to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, to give states more power to manage human-wildlife conflicts. This response came from Union Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in reply to a question by CPI-M Rajya Sabha member V Sivadasan.

Singh stated that wildlife protection, including conflict management, is primarily the responsibility of state and Union Territory governments under the existing law. He highlighted that Section 11(1)(a) allows chief wildlife wardens to grant permits for hunting animals listed in Schedule I if they pose a threat to human life or are incurably diseased. Section 11(1)(b) permits hunting of animals in Schedules II, III, or IV under similar conditions.

When asked if the Centre would amend the Act to grant states more autonomy, Singh replied, “Currently, no amendment in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been proposed.”

The issue is particularly relevant in Kerala, where wild boars have caused extensive crop damage and safety concerns. The state has repeatedly urged the Centre to declare wild pigs as “vermin,” allowing for their controlled culling. However, the Centre has advised Kerala to use existing provisions under Section 11 for selective hunting.

The Centre’s stance has raised questions about the effectiveness of current laws in addressing rising human-wildlife conflicts, with states advocating for more flexible measures.