Keralam to double compensation for wildlife attack deaths, crop loss

The Keralam government has decided to double the compensation for loss of life and crop damage caused by wildlife attacks, Forest and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John has said.

Inaugurating a State-level conclave on ‘Farmer Safety – Mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict’, organised jointly by the Forest and Agriculture departments at Thiruvambady in Kozhikode on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), the Minister said the decision followed discussions with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique.

Under the revised rates, compensation will be paid at ₹15 for each coconut destroyed by monkeys and other wild animals, and ₹30 per cocoa plant, the Minister said.

He said stringent measures would be taken to avoid delays in the disbursement of compensation for crop losses. The issue of wildlife conflict would not be treated as the sole responsibility of the Forest department and would instead be addressed through coordinated interventions by the Agriculture and Revenue departments.

The government would combine local experience with modern technology to protect the lives and property of farmers, Mr. John said.

Three-pronged strategy

He said the government was adopting a three-pronged strategy of containment, mitigation and compensation to address human-wildlife conflict. As part of the strategy, high-conflict areas and 55 priority grama panchayats had been identified, and multi-layered protection systems would be established in these areas.

A pilot project to provide additional income to farmers living close to forests by promoting homestays and backpacking in association with ecotourism would be launched soon, he said.

The government would also promote the cultivation and marketing of crops less vulnerable to wildlife damage, including high-curcumin turmeric.

Mr. John also said land acquisition on the grounds of Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) or Ecologically Fragile Land (EFL) proceedings without providing eligible compensation would not be allowed. Fair land value would be fixed and eligible compensation ensured, he said.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Siddique said the State would not allow farmers’ houses or agricultural land to be included in Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). Advanced technologies, including AI, remote sensing, camera-based monitoring and early-warning systems, would be deployed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, he said.

Experts led various sessions at the conclave.