Prioritise public safety when releasing wild animals: Kerala SHRC

Amid escalating concerns of human-animal conflicts on the peripheries of forested areas, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered that public safety and transparency should be taken into account when wild animals are captured and released in forest areas.

The directive, issued by SHRC judicial member K. Baijunath, notes that the Forest department has the responsibility to safeguard the lives and properties of people living near forest boundaries. The commission also emphasised the necessity for effective communication with local communities during such operations and stipulated that wild animals should be released well within the forest interiors.

The order was issued in response to a complaint filed by social activist P.N. Venukuttan Nair, who highlighted risks to lives and property due to the release of wild animals in the residential zones of the Koruthodu panchayat here by forest officials.

Robust measures

The panel also called for the Forest department to adopt more robust and scientifically grounded preventive measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. “Surveillance should be strengthened in residential areas. Solar fences and modern warning systems should be installed immediately,” the order stated.

The commission also directed the Kottayam divisional forest officer, Periyar Tiger Reserve west division deputy director, and Pampa range forest officer to take the complaints seriously and conduct a proper inspection under the leadership of high-ranking officials and implement a clear action plan to prevent such concerns from recurring.

The Periyar Tiger Reserve west division deputy director informed the panel that wild boars that had become a threat to pilgrims at Sabarimala and Pampa were captured and taken to the Vattamala reserve forest area under the Erumeli range on the instructions of the chief forest officer. However, according to Mr. Venukuttan, the boars released by the officials entered the residential area in large numbers and created concern at Koruthodu Junction.

The annual translocation of wild boars from Sabarimala ahead of the pilgrimage season has become a major issue in the forest fringes of Kottayam, particularly in Koruthodu, with local residents often erupting in protests.