Kerala Rights Panel Orders Early Warning Systems in Wildlife Conflict Zones

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed the Forest and Wildlife Department and the Local Self-Government Department to work together on a lasting solution to the recurring human-wildlife conflict in the State. The panel also asked the Chief Secretary to coordinate the efforts of the departments concerned and ensure that measures are implemented effectively across all conflict-prone areas.

The order was issued in a case registered suo motu on the basis of media reports. Judicial member K. Byjunath said the State should strengthen its early warning and response mechanism rather than depend mainly on chasing away wild elephants, erecting fences and paying compensation after attacks.

The commission said an effective system should identify and communicate a threat before a conflict takes place. It called for the use of modern technology suited to the specific conditions of different conflict zones. Wildlife movement routes and conflict-prone hotspots should be mapped and kept under continuous surveillance, the order said.

Among the measures suggested were camera traps, sensor-based warning systems, drones, mobile phone alerts, solar fencing, hanging fences and trenches. The commission stressed that such interventions should account for regional variations and be planned according to the nature of the conflict in each area.

It observed that while the Forest Department had been taking steps to reduce tensions arising from human-wildlife encounters, these had not produced the desired results, and said the department could not evade its responsibility in addressing the issue.

The commission also called for a balanced approach that safeguards human lives and livelihoods while protecting the natural habitat of wildlife. It said human-wildlife conflict should be dealt with through advance planning, continuous monitoring and early warnings, in a manner comparable to preventive measures used in dealing with road accidents.

The Chief Secretary has been directed to submit an action-taken report within 30 days. The issue will be considered at the commission's next sitting in Kozhikode next month.