Conservationists oppose decision to kill wild boars

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Wild life conservationists have expressed concern over the Kerala government's decision to grant permission to farmers to kill wild boars which cause damage to crops saying it would lead to largescale poaching of the endangered animals and end in legalising wild meat trade.

Acknowledging the fact that wild boars population in the state had increased due to various environmental reasons, they however say the permission to kill will be counter productive.

In view of destructions caused by wild boars in human settlements in forest fringe villages, the government last week decided to give conditional permission to farmers to kill the animal that pose threat to their life and farms.

Former chairman of state Biodiversity Board and environmentalist Dr V S Vijayan told PTI here the key issue was whether laws would be strictly followed when such killings take place.

Free licence to farmers to annihilate wild boars would lead to largescale of poaching of wild boars and also other animals, he cautioned.

Admitting that wild boars menace was a serious problem in several parts of the state, Vijayan said there was need to control their population and culling could be adopoted for a short period on an experimental basis for achieving it.

He also said forest Department should be put in charge of the culling with active participation of local civil groups.

Enviromental activist C Jayakumar also said instead of giving a blanket permission to kill wild boars, the government should go for selective culling by entrusting the task to wild life or the forest departments.