Overpopulated animals may be marked ‘vermin’

New Delhi, June 8

In a move to resolve increasing man-animal conflict, especially those causing damages to crops, the Environment Ministry today said it has sought report from the states to declare certain overpopulated animals as vermin for a limited period of time.

Once declared vermin, that particular species can be hunted without restriction.

“We had issued a circular in this regard earlier also. In areas where farmers are facing huge problems due to animals, there is a procedure to declare them as ‘vermin’ like blue bull and wild boar for a particular period of time,” said Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

“As soon as we get states’ response on this, we will give them permission to declare such animals as ‘vermin’ for a limited period of time,” he said. If implemented, it will apply to wild animals listed in various Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972. The provisions to declare wild animals as problem animals are already there in the WPA, the Minister said.

Listing one year’s achievements of his Ministry, Javadekar said 20,000 hectare of land has been added to forest land for afforestation while approving projects. — PTI