Today, On 30th August, The NALSA-KeLSA legal conference on human-wildlife conflict began in Kerala, where Justice MM Sundresh stressed that reckless human actions drive the crisis. Referring to a WhatsApp message, he noted, “If animals could have a religion, man would be devil.”
A two-day legal conference focused on the increasing challenges of human-wildlife conflict commenced in Kerala on Saturday.
The event was organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) along with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) in Thiruvananthapuram, and judges from the Supreme Court and the High Court attended it.
During the conference, Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh remarked that human actions in the relentless pursuit of development are at the core of this conflict.
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He referenced a WhatsApp message he received to illustrate his point, stating,
“If animals could have a religion, man would be devil.”
Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna shared an anecdote from Mangalore to emphasize the situational awareness of animals. She recounted an incident where a leopard and a dog ended up in a farmhouse toilet.
The owner, unaware of their presence, locked the door at night, only to find both animals emerging in the morning.
Justice Nagarathna explained,
“This incident shows that animals also act in accordance with context; they are situation-aware and emotional beings in many ways. The leopard didn’t eat the dog because it understood they were both ultimately captive.”
She highlighted that while India’s culture traditionally promotes coexistence with all living beings, there is a growing trend toward a more human-centric perspective.
Justice Vikram Nath, who has recently been involved in a high-profile case regarding stray dogs in Delhi, humorously noted that his work on this issue has gained him recognition beyond India.
He said,
“So long I have been known in the legal fraternity for the little work I do, but I am thankful to the stray dogs for making me known to the entire civil society, not only in this country but world over.”
He expressed gratitude for the attention the case has brought him and shared that he has received messages of support, even from dog lovers.
Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani emphasized that addressing human-wildlife conflict requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on conflict avoidance, management, and resolution. He noted that a single regulatory framework might not be effective for all situations.
Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev, Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, and Justice A Muhamed Mustaque also addressed the audience, underscoring the significance of the topic for Kerala.
As a densely populated and biodiverse state, Kerala has seen a rise in conflicts between humans and animals, particularly with wild boars and elephants, leading to loss of life and damage to farmland.
Chief Justice Jamdar highlighted that the most affected individuals often belong to vulnerable communities, including tribal groups.
He stated,
“Those who face the main effect of this conflict are the members of vulnerable sections of society, tribals and vulnerable communities. They are also entitled to the protective umbrella of the Legal Services Authority Act.”