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Introduction
Kerala's unprecedented decision to declare 'man-animal conflict' a state-specific disaster highlights the growing challenge this complex issue poses to India. This analysis aims to provide UPSC aspirants with a comprehensive understanding of the situation, including its root causes, the state's response, and strategies for managing human-animal conflict, a vital topic for CSE preparation.
What's the Ongoing News?
Kerala has become India's first state to declare 'man-animal conflict' a state-specific disaster.
This decision comes at a time when people in several parts of Kerala are demanding a perennial solution to instances of man-animal conflict.
Rising Human-Animal Conflict in Kerala: A Brief Overview
Kerala, despite being one of India's most densely populated states, harbors a significant wildlife population.
Kerala faces a significant human-animal conflict, with over 48,000 incidents reported between 2013-14 and 2018-194.
Over 600 people have lost their lives in Kerala since 2015 in conflict with animals. Elephants are the main culprits, involved in 14,611 incidents. Wild boars, bonnet macaques, and snakes are also notable for causing conflicts.
How is Kerala Addressing the Issue?
Disaster Declaration: Declaring man-animal conflict a 'disaster' shifts responsibility from the Forest Department alone to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and district-level authorities. This enables the following:
Faster Response: The Disaster Management Act streamlines decision-making and allows for more rapid interventions to mitigate conflict.
Overriding Wildlife Protection Act: In exigent circumstances, the DM Act's provisions can take precedence over the Wildlife Protection Act, permitting swifter action against problematic animals.
District Collector Empowerment: District collectors, as heads of their District DMAs, gain greater authority to intervene.
Why the 'Disaster' Declaration?
Mounting Public Pressure: Repeated deaths and injuries of people due to animal attacks fuelled public outrage, necessitating a decisive response from the government.
Slow Tranquillisation and Removal: The current system, with a single Chief Wildlife Warden responsible for capture/tranquillisation decisions, was deemed too slow in addressing imminent threats.
Legal Hurdles: In the past, legal challenges have hindered timely action against dangerous wild animals.
So, What Changes Now?
SDMA as Primary Responder: The SDMA framework allows for a multi-departmental response with clear command and control.
Greater Flexibility and Speed: The DM Act overrides other laws, empowering authorities to take swift action, such as tranquillising, relocating, or in extreme situations, culling problematic animals.
Legal Safeguards: DM Act offers legal protection to authorities acting in good faith under its provisions.
Understanding Human-Animal Conflict in India
Causes
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Expanding human settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure encroach into wildlife areas, squeezing animal populations.
Resource Depletion: Depletion of natural resources within forests forces animals to venture into human areas.
Retaliatory Attacks: Humans may harm animals in retaliation for crop damage or livestock losses.
Focus: Human-Elephant Conflict in India
Reasons: Elephants require large home ranges and consume significant amounts of vegetation, making them vulnerable to conflicts with humans.
Data: India harbors about 30,000 Asian Elephants with increasing confrontations.
Project Elephant
Launched in 1992 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Aims to ensure the long-term survival of viable elephant populations in their natural habitats.
Focus areas:
Habitat protection and management
Conflict mitigation measures
Welfare of captive elephants
Elephant Reserves in India
UPSC aspirants need to be familiar with India's elephant reserves. Practice map work to locate them.
Animal Adoption: A Potential Solution?
The concept involves sponsoring the expenses of an animal in captivity or a rescue center.
Can contribute to awareness-raising, conservation funding, and improved animal welfare.
Requires careful evaluation to ensure it does not incentivise unnecessary capture or disrupt natural behaviour.
Elephant Species and Differences
There are three species of elephants: the African Forest Elephant, the African Savannah Elephant, and the Asian Elephant.
The Asian elephant is related to the African elephant but they are different species.
The Asian elephant is generally smaller than the African elephant and has the highest body point on the head. The back is convex or level.
Key Differences: Asian vs. African Elephants
Characteristic | Asian Elephant | African Elephant |
Ears | Smaller | Larger |
Forehead | Two domes | Single dome |
Back | Arched | Swayback |
Size | Smaller | Larger |
Trunk | Single finger-like projection | Two finger-like projections |
Do You Know?
Elephants have defined social structures. Herds of elephants are matriarchies, with the oldest female leading the way. They consist of female family members of any age and male offspring. Pubescent male elephants leave their herds and generally operate in bachelor male herds. Older males are often solitary.
Conclusion
The escalating human-animal conflict in Kerala and across India demands a comprehensive approach, UPSC aspirants must recognise this issue's multi-faceted nature. Solutions require balancing wildlife conservation, sustainable development, and securing the livelihoods and safety of affected communities.
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