Kerala Budget prioritises human-wildlife conflict mitigation efforts

The State Budget has laid thrust on the critical issue of human-wildlife conflicts by earmarking ₹70.40 crore for mitigation efforts. This is an increase of ₹21.55 crore from the previous year.

Additionally, ₹50 crore has been set aside as a special package, over and above the regular Plan allocation, to curb wildlife attacks and safeguard forest communities. This focussed attention on the issue is particularly relevant given the alleged neglect by the Central government in responding to the State’s request for assistance in addressing the escalating crisis.

The Budget also stresses the need for collaborative efforts between the Central and State governments to take steps, including enacting legislation, to manage the growing wildlife population.

Fund for conservation

A total of ₹305.61 crore has been allocated for forestry and wildlife conservation during the 2025-26 fiscal year, with an expected ₹45.47 crore in Central assistance.

The government will also launch the ‘Snake Envenomation Zero Mortality Kerala’ project, aiming to bring down snakebite fatalities by a half within two years, and eliminate such incidents completely within the next five years.

This initiative highlights a persistent threat that has often been overshadowed by conflicts involving larger animals such as wild elephants, wild boars, and tigers. Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, snakebite envenoming claimed 811 lives in Kerala, accounting for 73.4% of all wildlife attack-related deaths. The project, being envisaged in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority and other departments, had been approved at a recent meeting of the State Wildlife Board, official sources said.

For elephant sanctuaries

The Budget allocates ₹3.50 crore to enhance the elephant sanctuaries at Periyar, Anamudi, Nilambur, and Wayanad under the Project Elephant conservation programme, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. Moreover, ₹2 crore has been set aside for the Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

An allocation of ₹5 crore has been made to establish a new biological park in Perambra, Kozhikode, aimed at promoting wildlife conservation, research, ecotourism and environmental education. To further promote ecotourism, ₹6 crore has been allocated for the Zoological Park at Puthur in Thrissur. An amount of ₹1 crore will be earmarked for launching an ecotourism project at Sasthamcotta in Kollam.

Project for trekking

The Vanayathra project, which aims to cultivate interest in trekking among tourists, will receive ₹3 crore. The Forest Protection Scheme, which includes forest conservation and the mitigation of wild animal attacks, will be strengthened with an allocation of ₹25 crore. An allocation of ₹50.30 crore has been earmarked to enhance forest protection activities and infrastructure development.

New response teams

The Budget notes the formation of new rapid response teams (RRTs) in nine forest divisions, complementing the existing 19 RRTs, thereby expanding the network to 28 teams capable of responding to emergencies. The Mission Solar Fencing 2024 has also been implemented across the State to restore defunct solar fences. The government has also appointed 500 persons belonging to the forest-dependent Scheduled Tribes community as Beat Forest Officers through the Kerala Public Service Commission in 2023.