MALAPPURAM: Though the government has permitted wild boar culling only in five districts in the state, a new guideline issued by the Forest Department has extended the order to all districts.According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Raja Raja Varma, the guideline, which was issued by the department to clarify the government order permitting wild boar culling, is applicable in all districts in the state. “We had consulted the government, and the officials confirmed that the order can be implemented in all districts,” he said.The government had appointed an expert committee to study the issue. According to its recommendations, the order to shoot and kill wild boars “will initially be implemented on a pilot basis in selected districts which have recorded heavy crop raids by wild animals viz, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Pathanamthitta, for a period of one year”. The new guideline has ignored this suggestion.Besides, the report recommended extending the order to other districts only after six months. It says: “The government may review the situation after six months and decide whether to continue the recommendations or extend the same to whole of Kerala”.According to official sources, the extension was made under pressure from political parties in other districts.The new guideline directs the forest officials to make sure that the culling is carried out in the presence of an official. However, it does not say that a forest official should shoot the animal.If needed, the service of a farmer with a valid arms licence can be utilised, says the guideline.Farmers will soon be able to seek the permission to shoot wild boars raiding their crops, through the Forest Department website. “Once the circular reaches the officials, they can start accepting requests from the public,” said an official.
Comments
0 comment