Kill, sell, or translocate excess wild animals, says CPI farmers’ forum

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Kerala, the farmers’ wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has criticised the Forest department’s recently published draft policy to address human-wildlife conflicts and demanded that the government ‘kill or sell excess wild animals in the forest.’

The AIKS alleged that the Forest department was attempting to give the impression that farmers were responsible for the increasing number of wild animal attacks in the State.

‘Fell eucalyptus trees’

Mathew Varghese, State vice-president of the AIKS, sent a letter to Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, blaming the Forest department for the increasing incursion of wild elephants into human habitations. “Earlier, the forests ensured food and water security for wild animals. After the Forest department planted exotic species such as teak, eucalyptus, and wattle inside the forests, wild animals began to raid human habitations,” said Mr. Varghese.

“The excess wild animals in the forest areas should be killed, sold, or translocated from the forest areas. The Forest department failed to prevent wild animal attacks and is now blaming the people for such incidents,” said the letter.

“The department had earlier decided to fell eucalyptus trees in four lakh acres, but removed the trees only from 1,500 acres. In the present situation, it will take nearly three decades to axe the trees. The Forest department should take immediate steps to fell the trees and reconvert the area into a natural forest,” said Mr. Varghese.

In his letter, he further demanded that the government provide compensation of ₹50 lakh and a job for a family member in cases of death caused by wild animal attacks.

“To fund reforestation operations, the government should axe and sell old and mature trees, including sandalwood,” said Mr. Varghese.