The growing presence of otters on the Meenachil River has led to serious safety concerns and affected local livelihoods in regions like Kottayam. While conservation laws aim to protect vulnerable species such as otters-a commendable effort-they appear to lack mechanisms for addressing unintended consequences like population overgrowth. Balancing environmental protection with community safety could require innovative strategies that go beyond traditional remedies. Relocation efforts or habitat manipulation may mitigate risks without undermining conservation goals but would demand meaningful government investment and expertise. The issue also opens broader debates on how wildlife policies shoudl adapt when human-animal conflicts escalate due to legislative changes. Efforts must be sensible enough not onyl for immediate relief but also aligned with long-term ecological principles.
read more: Published – July 12, 2025 07:23 pm IST