Animal Rights Groups Criticize Kerala’s Wildlife Protection Amendment Bill

Quick Summary

• Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill,2025: Proposed amendments have sparked criticism from teh Humane World for Animals India,an NGO.
• Key concerns:

– The bill introduces provisions for removing, translocating, or killing wild animals outside forest areas without delay if deemed risky.
– It allows certain species to be declared as ‘vermin,’ raising fears of indiscriminate culling and violations of central Wildlife Protection Act (1972) norms.

• Bonnet Macaque Downgrade:

– Proposal to shift bonnet macaques from Schedule I (highest protection) to Schedule II has faced pushback due to lack of State-specific scientific studies.
– Critics argue urban visibility does not reflect accurate population data or justify reduced protection status.

• Key Challenges Highlighted: Shrinking habitats, poor waste management, and food scarcity are main drivers of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala.
• Legislative concerns include alignment with Central laws under Article 254(2), requiring Presidential assent.

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