Animal Legal Force recently filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court seeking solutions to the state’s severe human-wildlife conflict. The petition calls for the immediate implementation of recommendations from a 2023 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on preventive and mitigative measures.
The PIL’s key demands
Filed in August 2025, the litigation addresses several aspects of the conflict:
- It demands that the Kerala government implement the CAG report’s suggestions, including restoring forest and wildlife habitats to prevent animals from entering human settlements.
- The PIL seeks action against the Chakkittapara panchayat for a resolution to “empanel 20 shooters” to kill wild animals, which Nair described as “anti-national”.
- It calls for a ban on the Forest Department’s elephant-repelling activities, arguing that the methods used are a form of “hunting” and can provoke retaliation.
- The plea raises concerns about political leaders allegedly misleading the public and requests that the Election Commission issue guidance against such rhetoric.
- Nair’s petition asks the Press Council of India to direct media outlets to avoid using derogatory language about wild animals.
Wider context of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala
Nair’s PIL highlights a significant issue in Kerala, where severe and increasing conflicts involve animals like elephants, wild boars, tigers, and leopards. This conflict is partly attributed to human encroachment on habitats and disruption of elephant corridors. The Kerala High Court has previously addressed the issue, with a 2024 order emphasizing the constitutional duty of citizens to show compassion to animals
