Activists urge Forest staff to go slow on shooting of boars

Farmers across the country complained that the animal destroyed the crops and they demanded the right to kill the wild boars. Considering the fact that wild boars remained a big nuisance to the farmers, the Government of India directed the state Forest Departments to undertake census of wild boars. 

Vijay Krishnaraj, a wildlife activist and former secretary and Nilgiris Wildlife Association, said, “It is a fact that forest lands are largely converted into farm lands leading wild boars entering the agricultural lands. Since killing of wild boars can be misused, the government should strictly monitor the issue.”  

K Kalidasan, president of Osai environmental organisation, Coimbatore, said, “Wild boars are main food for tiger and leopards in the forests and killing of these animals will affect ecological system. Further, such animals play the main role of a scavenger in the forest.” 

However, the officials concerned should execute the GO with caution, as it would pave the way for hunting, he added. Meanwhile, farmers in the state have welcomed the move. 

“The wild boars intrude into the fields and swallow our crops, besides destroying them. Sometime, the crops are heavily damaged by the boar attacks.  So, the forest officials should take necessary steps to protect our crops and put an end to human-animal conflicts,” said N Veerasekaran, organiser, Ayyan Vaikkal Irrigation Farmers Association, Tiruchy. 

He further demanded that farmers should be given rights to kill such animals. When contacted, a senior official in the Forest Department said, “There are certain procedures in place, only after which shooting of the attacking wild boars will take place. The district forest officials should submit reports after every such shooting.”