Sat Feb 07 14:40:38 UTC 2026: # Human-Wildlife Conflict Deaths in Kerala Decline, But Snakebites Remain a Major Concern

The Story

Official statistics released by the Kerala State government indicate a significant decrease in human deaths resulting from human-wildlife conflict. In 2024–25, 67 people lost their lives, a sharp decline from the 145 deaths reported in 2016–17. The data, obtained under the Right to Information Act by activist Kulathoor Jaisingh, reveals that while elephant attacks, snakebites, and other wildlife encounters contribute to the fatalities, snakebites account for nearly 50% of the total. The government is considering separating snakebite fatalities from the overall human-wildlife conflict statistics, as many occur in non-forest areas.

Despite progress, human-wildlife conflict remains a major political issue. Kerala has approximately 16,000 kilometers of forest boundaries, with around 4,000 kilometers identified as conflict-prone areas. With nearly 1,000 human habitations located within forest regions, achieving a completely conflict-free interface is deemed unrealistic. However, interventions, including the establishment of 36 emergency response centers and 28 Rapid Response Teams following the declaration of human-wildlife conflict as a State disaster in 2024, aim to reduce the intensity of such conflicts by up to 50%.

Key Points

  • 67 people died in human-wildlife conflicts in 2024-25 in Kerala, a decline from 145 deaths in 2016-17.
  • 19 deaths were attributed to elephant attacks, 34 to snakebites, and one each to wild boar, tiger, and gaur attacks in 2024-25.
  • Nearly 50% of deaths were caused by snakebites, many outside forest areas.
  • Since 2011, a total of 1,549 human deaths were reported in wildlife-related incidents, with 1,158 due to snakebites.
  • Kerala has 16,000 kilometers of forest boundaries, with 4,000 kilometers prone to human-wildlife conflict.
  • In 2024, human-wildlife conflict was declared a State disaster, leading to the establishment of emergency response centers and rapid response teams.

Key Takeaways

  • Human-wildlife conflict in Kerala, while still a significant issue, shows a declining trend in fatalities.
  • Snakebites are a major contributor to human deaths categorized as human-wildlife conflict.
  • Government interventions, including emergency response teams and strategic planning, are crucial in mitigating the conflict.
  • The categorization of snakebites as human-wildlife conflict is under review.
  • Complete elimination of human-wildlife conflict is considered unrealistic, but significant reduction is achievable with appropriate measures.

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