HC tells govt. to adopt a reimagined inter-departmental strategy to address human-animal conflicts

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has directed the government to adopt a reimagined and inter-departmental strategy to address the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflicts at the Aralam farm in Kannur and in Wayanad.

A Bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian said they had visited the farm to get a first-hand idea of the situation there. Observing that wildlife incursions, especially by elephants, continued despite measures taken during the past decade, the court said the tribal settlements were scattered, rather than clustered, making them harder to defend. The settlements were also wedged between dense forests and farmlands.

There were also ‘forest enclave’ pockets where wildlife often chose to hide after breaching barriers. Even monkeys were becoming a recurring nuisance, pointing to the inadequacy of relying solely on physical walls as a deterrent, the court said and suggested voluntary relocation of tribal homesteads into the farm area. They could thus continue with their agricultural work within the farm and be paid for their labour, thus securing their lives and livelihood.

Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak acknowledged the need for complete reimagining. The State’s revised plan proposed replacing of banana, pineapple, and jackfruit, which attracted elephants, with ginger, turmeric, chilly, and cinnamon to deprive animals of their reason to enter human habitats.

The plan also calls for clearing dense undergrowth in these areas to prevent them from being used as hiding spots by elephants.

The court cited chronic administrative hurdles, since farms and tribal resettlement areas fell under different departments, causing delays and disputes. It recommended placing them under a single administrative head.

Counsel for the government informed the court that a Kerala Administrative Service officer had been appointed as the managing director of the State Farming Corporation of Kerala, having full oversight of the development and administration of both areas.

On Wayanad, the court observed that the challenges were different from that of the Aralam farm, taking note of its criss-crossed forest and settlement pattern. While mentioning the role being played by Janajagratha Samiti units, it said this grassroots network could be formalised, creating an organisational chart to define roles and responsibilities. This could be extended to other conflict-prone areas in Palakkad, Idukki, and Kasaragod.

Stating that grave situations called for drastic measures and informed decisions, the court said it was not attempting to craft policy, but to mediate between citizens and the government to remove bureaucratic roadblocks.

It directed the government to file a report on the strategies being adopted to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. The District Collectors of Kannur and Wayanad and forest officers too were present at the online hearing.