30 human-wildlife conflict hotspots in Kerala; Wayanad tops list with 12, says Centre

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has identified 30 human-wildlife conflict (HWC) hotspots in Kerala, with Wayanad accounting for the highest number. The details were provided in a reply to a question raised by Wayanad Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi in the parliament.

According to the ministry, 271 panchayats and municipalities across 12 landscapes in Kerala were identified as human-wildlife conflict–prone areas in 2024. Of these, 30 locations were classified as hotspots, spread across seven districts — Wayanad, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Idukki, Kannur, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Interestingly, Pathanamthitta — where a tiger was found trapped in a well on Tuesday — does not feature on the list.

Nine hotspots fall under the ‘Very High’ risk category. Seven are in Wayanad — Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, Noolpuzha, Panamaram, Thavinhal, Thirunelly and Thondernad — while the remaining two are Mankulam in Idukki and Kuttampuzha in Ernakulam.

The other 21 hotspots are categorised as ‘High’ risk. These include five in Wayanad — Meenangadi, Mullankolly, Poothadi, Pulpally and Vellamunda; two in Palakkad — Agali and Sholayar; four in Kannur — Kelakam, Kottiyoor, Payyavoor and Aralam; two in Kollam — Kulathupuzha and Aryankavu; five in Ernakulam — Ayyampuzha, Koovappady, Kottappady, Pindimana and Vengoor; one in Idukki — Kanthalloor; one in Thrissur — Kodassery; and one in Thiruvananthapuram — Peringammala.

The ministry reiterated that wildlife management, including the mitigation of human-animal conflict, is primarily the responsibility of State governments and Union Territory administrations, which act as first responders in such situations. It also noted that Kerala declared human-wildlife conflict a “state-specific disaster” through a 2024 order to facilitate coordinated mitigation efforts involving multiple departments.

Outlining measures taken in Wayanad, the Ministry said three Rapid Response Teams have been deployed at Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavady and Nilambur, with satellite teams stationed at Kalpetta and Meppadi. An AI-powered perimeter intrusion detection and early warning system, known as smart fencing, has been installed on an experimental basis in the Periya Range of the North Wayanad Forest Division and has shown promising results. The system uses distributed acoustic sensing technology through a 10-km optical fibre network to detect wildlife movement.

Drone- and thermal camera–based monitoring systems have also been deployed in forest areas, particularly in identified hotspots. To enhance coordination across state borders, an Inter-State Coordination Committee involving Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has been formed. Minister-level and secretary-level meetings were held in 2024, and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and information sharing was signed by the three states on March 10, 2024, at Bandipur in Karnataka.