Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has raised concerns over the increasing instances of human-animal conflict in her constituency, Wayanad, urging the government to enhance compensation for those affected. During the Lok Sabha’s Question Hour on Monday, Priyanka highlighted that 90 people in her constituency had been affected by such conflicts in the past year alone, with one recent incident involving a wild elephant attack.
In response, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, noted that the central government had already taken steps by sending a team to Wayanad, where collaboration between the forest department and local authorities is ongoing to address the issue.
Recent Kerala government data reveals that from 2016 to 2024, 915 people lost their lives, and over 7,917 were injured due to human-animal conflict in the state. Wild elephants, tigers, and boars were primarily responsible for these incidents.
In a bid to address the growing challenge, Kerala and Karnataka states signed an agreement in March 2024 to coordinate efforts in managing wildlife encroachment. This initiative includes identifying conflict zones, streamlining intervention processes, and improving information exchange.
