The Kerala Forest Department has written to the additional chief secretary (forest and wildlife) requesting them to revoke the honorary wildlife warden status conferred on Chakkittapara panchayat president after the local body decided to shoot and kill wild animals that enter human habitats.
The decision by the Chakittappara panchayat in Kerala’s Kozhikode, which regularly experiences human-wildlife conflict, had become controversial as it was violative of the Wildlife Protection Act. The local body governed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had earlier constituted an empanelled list of shooters to gun down wild animals entering the panchayat.
In 2022, the Kerala Cabinet permitted local bodies to kill wild boars that damage agriculture, property, and endanger lives and also gave honorary wildlife warden status to panchayat presidents in affected areas.
Chakkittapara is one of the many panchayats in Kerala facing a continuous wildlife threat to both lives and crops. While acknowledging that killing wild animals is against the law, panchayat president K Sunil stated that the decision was made in the interest of the people.
In the letter, the Chief Wildlife Warden said the decision was unconstitutional and challenged the legal framework of the country.
Earlier, speaking to TNM, panchayat vice president Chippi Manoj had said apart from boars, monkeys and elephants are causing difficulties for residents in Chakkittapara. Even though killing them is against the law, fifteen ward members from various political parties ratified the decision, while the panchayat secretary expressed dissent.