Kerala’s environment is facing a significant threat, according to the Coexistence Collective, a powerful alliance of environmental groups across the state. They have unequivocally condemned the proposed Kerala Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025, labeling it as fundamentally “anti-science, anti-conservation, and anti-people.” The collective argues that this bill offers false promises to the public while simultaneously dismantling crucial institutional safeguards and endangering the state’s precious biodiversity.
This widespread condemnation is supported by numerous prominent organizations, including the Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi, Keralathile Vanyatha, Green Movement, Save Nelliyampathy Campaign, Fire Free Forest Campaign, Nilambur Nature Education Centre, Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society, Environment Protection and Research Council, Wildlife Protection and Conservation Group, Green Protectors Collective, and Voice for Integrity and Rights and Indigenous Yards for Animals. Esteemed environmentalists like E. Kunhikrishnan and S. Unnikrishnan have also publicly backed the collective’s stance.
In a recent press release, the Coexistence Collective accused the government of undermining legal and environmental responsibility. They highlighted how the bill bypasses essential scientific studies, ignores expert consultation, disregards the statutory authority of the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW), and even goes against binding judicial precedents set by the Kerala High Court in 2024. Such actions, they assert, make a mockery of proper governance and environmental stewardship.
Dangerous Delegations of Power
A core concern for the collective is the bill’s proposal to grant the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) unchecked authority to order the immediate killing of any wild animal accused of injuring a human. This move, they warn, completely overlooks critical issues such as mistaken identity and opens the door to the indiscriminate slaughter of endangered species. Furthermore, it bypasses existing protective measures within the Wildlife Act and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines, which explicitly require attempts at capture, tranquilization, and relocation before any lethal force is considered.
“This bill, if enacted, would pave the way for mass killings driven by local political pressures, leading to a collapse of ecological balance and a severe violation of India’s international commitments under global biodiversity conventions,” the collective stated emphatically. They also pointed out that policymakers appear to be ignoring the real underlying causes of human-wildlife conflict, such as widespread habitat destruction, uncontrolled quarrying, rampant deforestation, and poorly regulated land use.
Consequently, the Coexistence Collective has issued a firm appeal to the Kerala government to immediately withdraw this “regressive” bill. They are also urging civil society, environmentalists, and the broader public to unite in opposition to the government’s current narrative.
The collective dismissed official claims that existing Central laws and guidelines are “impractical” or cause “delay in action” as both “false and misleading.” These safeguards, they explained, are specifically designed to strike a delicate balance between ensuring human safety and fulfilling vital conservation duties. By portraying them as mere obstacles, the government is, in their view, deliberately confusing the public and generating fear to justify short-term, politically motivated actions.
“It is profoundly troubling that this Bill lacks any foundation in scientific study, ecological surveys, or reliable data. Disturbingly, no respected biologists, research institutions, or established conservation NGOs have been consulted in its creation,” the press release concluded. The collective is passionately calling on policymakers to prioritize genuine science-based solutions, focus on restoring crucial habitats, and implement effective coexistence strategies, rather than resorting to easily swayed “populist shortcuts.”