The State government, after hesitating for over five years, has finally acceded to the long-pending demand of farmers and allowed ‘controlled’ killing of wild boars, an animal currently protected under the Wildlife Act. In a notification issued on Thursday, the government authorized the Dy Conservator of Forest to grant permissions for 'conditional' killing of wild boars under schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The farmer-wild boar conflict has been long-standing. While farmers were up against large-scale destruction of crops by herds of wild boars, the government showed reluctance to act because of the cross-fire by animal lovers. It was in August this year that the advocate general told the High Court hearing a petition that the government has not decided to declare wild boar as vermin, and added there was also no proposal on this issue.
Farmers who have been tormented by floods, squally weather and unseasonal rains have genuine reasons to complain against the destruction of crops by animals. It would be unfair of any government to ignore the voice of the farmer and yet tom-tom about farming, farm produce and self-sustainability.
The order issued by the principal chief conservator of forests makes it clear that wild boars can only be killed in cultivable areas following a complaint by the farmer to the local wildlife warden. The process involves a panchnama of destruction, following which permissions will be granted to engage a licenced shooter to hunt down the wild boars. The procedure effectively lays to rest the opposition by animal activists and rescuers who were maintaining that crop destruction is an area-specific issue that needs to be handled as per the needs of that area, without any implications on the State as a whole.
On paper, the procedures laid down for killing wild boars are well defined, but the practicality of the solution appears doubtful. Wild boars tend to dig up roots of crops and can devastate a small farm overnight causing irreversible damage. Despite the vermin tag, the farmer remains a helpless spectator watching his crops being plundered, because he has a process to follow. He is in no position to act spontaneously and use his resources. The law has to take its course, and the farmer will have to walk through this while the vermin goes about its job.
By declaring wild boar as vermin, the government has solved a part of the problem for farmers, but the larger issue will remain unresolved since there are complaints about peacocks, monkeys, porcupines and bisons also destroying plantations. Also, the intention behind declaring wild boar as vermin may be sincere, but the fear is that the vermin tag could be misused and poachers may misuse this as a licence to kill. It remains to be seen how the grey areas are plugged and how swiftly authorities approach the situation.
