Kerala cabinet approves Wildlife Protection Amendment bill 2025
Once declared vermin, such animals can be killed without restriction, and their meat can even be consumed.
Once declared vermin, such animals can be killed without restriction, and their meat can even be consumed.
Once declared vermin, such animals can be killed without restriction, and their meat can even be consumed.
The Kerala cabinet on Saturday approved the draft Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill, which empowers the Chief Wildlife Warden to order the immediate killing of any wild animal that attacks and injures a person in a human settlement. This is the first time a state in India has proposed such an amendment.
A major provision of the bill transfers to the state government the authority—currently held by the Centre—to declare any Schedule II animal as 'vermin' if its population grows uncontrollably. Once declared vermin, such animals can be killed without restriction, and their meat can even be consumed. Kerala had long sought the Centre’s approval to classify wild boar as vermin, but repeated requests were denied. In response, the state had earlier designated local self-government heads as honorary wildlife wardens to oversee culling under central rules.
According to Forest Minister A K Saseendran, the new provisions allow urgent action by bypassing the impractical and time-consuming procedures mandated by central law and guidelines. He stressed, however, that species requiring legal protection will continue to be safeguarded.
If a person is seriously injured in a wild animal attack, the District Collector or Chief Conservator of Forests can report the case directly to the Chief Wildlife Warden, who can then order immediate steps, including killing the animal. The bill also allows population control and relocation measures for Schedule II animals without requiring central approval. Additionally, it proposes shifting native monkeys from Schedule I to Schedule II.
Current restrictions under Central law
Under Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden must record in writing that capture, tranquilisation, or relocation of a dangerous animal is impossible before ordering its killing. Even then, lethal action is permitted only as a last resort to protect human life. These procedures were further tightened by Standard Operating Procedures issued in 2013 by the central government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which prescribe detailed steps for dealing with tigers and elephants in human settlements.
The guidelines mandate the formation of a six-member committee at the site of the incident, installation of camera traps, monitoring of animal movements, attempts at caging and tranquilisation, and final approval from NTCA before release or relocation. Only if all measures fail, and the animal is proven to be a “man-eater,” can it be killed.
One notable case was the 2018 killing of tigress Avni in Maharashtra, after she allegedly killed 13 people. The “shoot-at-sight” order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden was challenged in the Bombay High Court, which demanded proof that the tigress was indeed a man-eater. The case against officials and the shooter remains unresolved.
Minister Saseendran said Kerala’s amendment will eliminate such cumbersome procedures and enable swift action in life-threatening situations.