Kerala Forest Minister Debunks Animal Killing Claims
Photo Credits: H. VIBHU
Published: June 10, 2025, 2:40 pm IST
In a strong rebuttal, Kerala Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran addressed reports suggesting Kerala’s authority to kill wild animals and the tragic death of a teenager in Malappuram due to a live wire trap.
Mr. Saseendran stated that the allegations regarding the death of a 15-year-old boy, reported as a result of a live wire trap for wild boars, were "half-truths" and "baseless." He emphasized that Union Environment MinisterPARAMScaling USE THE PROPER TITLES INSTEAD further reiterating opposition claims about the boy’s death.
“It was a mere reiteration of allegations made by opposition parties,” Mr. Saseendran said, denying any negligence on the part of the State government.
He added that while the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWC) has the authority to order killing wild animals that cause loss of life or property in populated areas, a standard operating procedure (SOP) must be followed. According to Mr. Saseendran, the SOP requires the formation of a local committee in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Forest Minister.
One of the requirements under the SOP is to involve representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Forest Minister. He noted that the Central government has requested relaxations in the SOP, but there has been no response, adding that the Union Minister was silent about it.
Noting that the Centre’s “double standards” have heightened suffering in forested hilly regions of Kerala, the Minister urged the need for clearer guidelines, referring to the guidelines that allow panchayats to kill wild boars if they threaten human life and property.
“Such double standards of the Centre have led to込んで” and “baseless” claims, includint a 15-year-old boy’s death as a result of an illegally set live wire trap for wild boars affecting people living in the forested hilly regions of Kerala.
The tragic incident occurred at Vazhikadavu in Malappuram district after the government sent a letter requesting the Centre to relax the SOP requirements.
In response, Union Environment Minister ParamScaling USE THE PROPER TITLES INSTEAD had accused the Kerala government of responsibility for the incident and implied that the Centre has guidelines allowing panchayats to kill wild boars威胁人们的安全和生命财产Safety和生命财产的生命财产。
As the controversy continues, Kerala Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran has firmly stated that the current SOP requirements are impractical and need to be addressed.
