NONSTOP ATTACK BY WILD BEASTS

Kerala seems to have become the ideal ground for the wild beasts. According to a report by The Hindu dated 24 Feb 2022, the minister Sri A K Saseendran has revealed that 1088 people were killed by wildlife attacks during the past one decade. Who is responsible for this huge number of deaths of poor human beings. If the media reports can be relied neither the Government of Kerala has adequate fund to prevent the trespassing of wild animals into human inhabited area nor they are able to get the Central Government interference in this matter. When both the governments are washing their hands in taking the responsibility of such large number of human killings by wild animals like elephants, tigers, leopards etc the people may approach the judiciary for arranging protection.

As per the report by The Hindu dated 18 February 2024 there were 55,839 attacks by wild animals in Kerala during the past eight years resulting in the deaths of 910 people. This has become a routine affair in Kerala now. It is not that the people are going to the forest and encounter with the animals but these are coming into the thickly populated areas and do the damages. Whatever may happen; the state government have only one answer that they don't have money.

If this is to be effectively prevented urgent measures are to be taken to: i) make adequate length of deep and wide trenches wherever required, ii) construct strong concrete walls with necessary height and width wherever required and iii) build electrified fencing with suitable height and strength wherever required.

There are fourteen wild life sanctuaries in Kerala with a total area of 1891 km². This covers 23.7% of the total forest area or 6.3% geographical area of the state. If these are properly protected and maintained and suitably converted into Safari Parks, the state can bag large income from tourism. The ruling government has two options; either do things the way it is needed or leave it as it is and hand over to someone else.

K V George