Kerala empowers local bodies to cull wild boars

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Last Updated27/05/2022

Kerala government has empowered local bodies to cull wild boars that pose a threat to agriculture crops or human life.
Cabinet had decided to appoint the chairpersons of local bodies as honorary wildlife wardens after the Central government turned down a suggestion by the State to declare wild boars as vermin.

Section 4 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972 empowers the State Government to appoint (a) a Chief Wildlife Warden (b) Wildlife Wardens; and (c) such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the purposes of the Act.
Section 11-B (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 provides powers to the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) to issue special orders to kill wild animals, if the officer is satisfied that a particular animal has become dangerous to human life or property.

As per Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, States can send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.
Wildlife laws divide species into ‘schedules’ ranked from I to V.
- Schedule I members are the best protected, in theory, with severe punishments meted out to those who hunt them.
Wild boars, nilgai and rhesus monkeys are Schedule II and III members, it is also protected, but can be hunted under specific conditions.


Schedule I and II	* Animals that are in the category of endangered species. <br>* These are given absolute protection from hunting. <br>* Eg. Tiger
Schedule III and IV	* These also have roughly the same provisions of Section I and II, but cover animals that are not in danger of becoming extinct.
Schedule V	* Delineates animals that can be hunted with the prior permission of Chief Wildlife Warden. (Vermins)
Schedule VI	* Concerns cultivation and plant life and gives teeth to setting up more protected animal parks.

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