The Forest department on Wednesday unveiled a landscape-based action plan for ‘human-wildlife coexistence’ which envisions Assembly constituency-level management committees, landscape-level command and control centres, and tech-driven mitigation tools such as drone squads and ‘smart hanging power fences’ for tackling human-wildlife conflict (HWC).
The plan, described as comprehensive and presented at a conference of Ministers, MPs and MLAs here, features a total financial plan of ₹1,040 crore over a four-year period, including ₹724.67 crore for the landscape-level component and ₹314.80 crore for State-level one.
Forest Minister Shibu Baby John, presiding over the event, said the action plan broadly divides Keralam into 14 ‘landscapes.’ The action plan envisions landscape-level planning across forest divisions, corridors and conflict hotspots as opposed to what it terms the earlier approach of “fragmented interventions.” It also promises a ‘preventive and proactive’ response based on risk mapping, increased focus on animal movement routes and site and species-specific interventions.
Smart hanging solar power fences fortified with audio-visual deterrence will be deployed across designated hotspots. Improved transportation for the Forest department using all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to negotiate difficult terrains is also proposed under it.
Further, novel initiatives proposed under the plan includes promotion of wildlife-resilient crops in forest-fringe regions, specialised wildlife rehabilitation centres for carnivores and herbivores at the Thrissur Zoo and kumki-squad for management of problematic elephants. Landscape-level command and control centres and drone squads will be established in all 14 landscapes.
In categorising HWC zones, the plan lists eight local self-government units in the ‘very high’ category (including Thirunelly, Noolpuzha and Meppadi in Wayanad), 14 in the ‘high’ category, and 51 in the medium conflict unit category.
Data on compensation disbursed during the 2016-17 to 2025-26 period showed 1,001 deaths due to HWC and 10,976 cases where compensation was sought for injuries. In June, July, and August this year, HWC incidents — including snakebites — claimed 14 lives, and caused injuries to 63 people, data published with the action plan reveal. Nearly three in every four conflicts reported occurred after dark. Of the 4,170 incidents analysed during the June-August period, 70.9% occurred between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Of this, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. was found to be the ‘single busiest hour’ with 384 incidents reported.
The plan, the Forest Minister said, was prepared in consultation with MLAs of constituencies with forest areas, farmer representatives, environmentalists, stakeholder government departments such as Revenue, LSG and, Agriculture and also the Centre.
Published – September 02, 2026 09:11 pm IST
