Kerala HC allows farmers to hunt wild boars destroying farmlands

Kozhikode: In what could be a livelihood-saving directive for the settler farmers of the Eastern belt of the erstwhile Malabar in North Kerala, the High Court on Friday directed the chief wildlife warden to permit farmers to hunt wild boars encroaching farmlands and destroying crops.

The interim order by Justice P B Suresh Kumar observed that the petitioners had a point and the forest authorities permit farmers to hunt boars under section 11 (1)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act. The WLW should report compliance in one month's time, Court directed.

In his writ petition, the petitioner had pointed out that the Government had failed to take adequate steps to tackle the wild boar menace in an effective manner.

Though the six farmers who approached the court bagged a favourable order to tackle the wild animal menace, the state will have to get concurrence from the Central ministry to move further, it is pointed out. (UNI)