The CAG audit report highlighted critical lapses in the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department’s management of wildlife habitats.
Published Jul 16, 2024 | 6:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 16, 2024 | 6:00 PM
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The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has come down heavily on the Kerala government’s efforts to tackle the growing issue of human-wildlife conflict (HWC).
The report, ‘Compliance Audit Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2022’, exposed loopholes in the state’s current strategies.
The CAG audit, conducted from July to December 2021 and May to November 2022 covered the period from 2017-18 to 2021-22. It highlighted critical lapses in the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department’s management of wildlife habitats.
The CAG observed that the department has failed to prevent the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, leading to the shrinkage of wild animal habitats. It also noted inadequate safeguards against encroachment and unplanned development projects further constricting wildlife corridors.
Kerala’s wildlife management strategy lacked carrying capacity studies, which determine the maximum number of animals a particular habitat could support based on available resources like food, water, and shelter. (Kerala Tourism)
The report criticised the department’s efforts to maintain wildlife habitats. Concerns raised included securing elephant corridors, removing invasive species, and ensuring sufficient animal food and water availability.
The failures, the CAG report said, were major contributors to the rise in HWC incidents across the state.
The audit found that lapses in constructing and maintaining preventive structures such as fences and trenches allowed wild animals to stray into human settlements.
The report, which called for improved wildlife population management strategies, highlighted the inadequacies in radio-collar tracking and SMS alert systems designed to warn residents of approaching wild animals, compromised safety.
The CAG also pulled up the department for the delays in compensating HWC victims, irregular claim approvals, and the lack of proper rehabilitation support, adding to the grievances.
A lack of a unified approach was hindering the effectiveness of HWC mitigation measures. It emphasized the need for better coordination between the Forest Department and other stakeholders like Local Self- Governments (LSGs), the Agriculture Department, and the Revenue Department.
The CAG had rested these audit findings under four categories, viz., management of wildlife habitats, preventive and mitigative measures, post-HWC measures, and coordination with all stakeholders.
Though the CAG cited three projects “which adversely impacted or have potential to adversely impact the HWC situation in the state”, the Forest Department remained mum on it.
Meanwhile, the government acknowledged the destruction of elephant corridors due to unplanned development, though it remained silent on the said projects.
The projects were:
– Construction of an NCC airstrip adjacent to the Periyar Tiger Reserve
– Setting up of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Palakkad
– Rehabilitation of landless tribals at Aralam Farm in Kannur
In the case of the first project, it was said that the airstrip would affect the soundscape of the area, rich in biodiversity including flagship species such as elephants and tigers, which would further increase the HWCs.
In the second case, the land earmarked for the IIT campus included 18.14 hectares of vested forest land, which had an elephant presence and was part of the Nilambur elephant reserve. Consequently, elephant herds stray onto the campus frequently. Thus, the location of the project might influence HWC.
Whereas in the third, the Aralam Farm having an extent of 7,000 acres of prime forest had been converted into the Central State Farm to promote agriculture in the region.
Out of this, a total of 3,375 acres adjacent to the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary was distributed to 1,500 tribal families by the state government.
The tribal families residing in the region have been constantly troubled due to elephant raids. About 40 wild elephants were reported to spend most of their time within the farmland and it has become their habitat.
During 2014-22, 13 people were killed in elephant attacks.
Adding to the concerns raised in the CAG report, a crucial element seemed absent from Kerala’s wildlife management strategy: Carrying capacity studies.
These studies determine the maximum number of animals a particular habitat could support based on available resources like food, water, and shelter.
Without this vital information, wildlife officials were essentially flying blind.
The lack of carrying capacity assessments makes it impossible to gauge if animal populations were exceeding sustainable limits, potentially contributing to resource scarcity and increased human-wildlife conflict.
Though solar/electric fences were considered to be one of the effective methods to prevent the intrusion of wild animals into human habitats, the state’s attempts to curb human-wildlife conflict through it seemed to have backfired, the audit report noted.
The report revealed that fences installed by the Forest Department lacked proper approvals and specifications.
It highlighted that a total of 223 wild animals were electrocuted due to electric fences during 2017-22. This included 17 elephants, which was 49 percent of the total unnatural elephant deaths.
Ironically, out of this, one occurred at a solar fence installed by the Forest Department in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
The report observed that the department had no control over private electric fences, raising concerns about their safety and impact on wildlife movement. It reminded that both government and unregulated fences were disrupting established animal corridors, hindering their natural movement patterns.
The Forest Department acknowledged the problem and admitted that private parties rarely sought guidance before installing fences.
With human-wildlife conflicts on the rise, the CAG reports reminded the authorities concerned that a comprehensive and well-coordinated strategy was urgently needed to safeguard both human lives and wildlife populations.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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