In Kozhikode, around 125 farmers in Koorachund and Chakkittapara regions decided to surrender their ancestral lands to the Forest Department amid rising threat to life and crops from wild animals. These farmers, mostly from hilly areas like Kakkayam, Thotil Palam, Chakitta Para, and Thiruvambadi, have struggled for years with wild animal invasions.
Many farmers have already relocated to other places and switched to other occupations. Others have stopped farming activities due to animal menace. Wild boar, elephant and monkey are posing a major threat to crops and human lives in the region. These animals can wipe out whole harvests, leaving farmers with ruined crops and growing debts. In Kakkayam, farmers live under the threat of a dangerous “killer gaur” that endangers both their crops and their lives.
Chakkittapara Panchayat president K Sunil told The New Indian Express, "Due to repeated incidents of attacks by wild animals, there was massive crop loss reported in the region in the last few years. In an attempt to find a lasting solution to the issue, we have drawn the government’s attention to the problem. It is following this that forest department initiated steps to take over the land after providing compensation to farmers."
Farmers accused the state government and the Forest department of cheating them by assuring preventive measures like the construction of solar-powered fences and the digging of trenches but not following it through or find a lasting solution to the issue. He added that affected farmers were being forced to abandon their farmland and move in search of more peaceful locations.
This worsening situation has sparked widespread protests across the Kozhikode district. In April 2025, farmers’ groups, especially those led by the United Democratic Front (UDF), organised strikes and marches to demand government action. They expressed their frustration and demanded immediate, effective solutions. A major demand is to amend the Wildlife Protection Act, which they believe protects wild animals too much, at the cost of human lives and livelihoods. They want the law changed to allow stronger and more practical measures, including regulated hunting of problem animals like wild boars.
Earlier in 2021, the Kerala High Court issued an interim order directing the Chief Wildlife Warden to permit farmers to hunt wild boars that threaten agricultural lands. However, farmers said that the court’s decision only addressed part of the problem. Broader issues like effective compensation systems, better conflict management, and a full review of the Wildlife Protection Act still need to be solved.
On 13 September 2025, the Kerala Cabinet approved the draft Bill empowering the Chief Wildlife Warden to order the immediate killing of any wild animal that attacks and injures a person after entering a residential area. The move came as a big relief to the people in the human-animal conflict-prone regions in the state.
Another important demand is for timely and fair compensation for crop damage and loss of life. Many farmers complain of delays and low payments, which add to their financial difficulties. The farmers’ decision to surrender their lands is seen as a desperate call for survival, showing that traditional farming has become impossible under current conditions. If many farmers abandon their lands, it could harm local economies, food security, and social stability in rural Kerala.
The growing human-wildlife conflict in Kozhikode requires a strong and multi-layered response from the government. This should include speeding up compensation payments, using effective methods to protect farmlands, revising laws to better balance wildlife protection with human needs, and strengthening cooperation between forest officials, local authorities, and farmers.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Demand for rehabilitation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to implement measures to prevent attacks by wild animals.
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area, Other environmental services, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Kerala High Court
Case Number
WP(C) 12496/2021; WP(C) 36422/ 2023
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Kerala Forest Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
