Kerala allows approved shooters to target nuisance wild boars across state

Published 4 August 2026 · india

The Kerala government has expanded the operational jurisdiction of approved shooters appointed by local self-government institutions to eliminate nuisance wild boars, allowing them to be

The Kerala government has expanded the operational jurisdiction of approved shooters appointed by local self-government institutions to eliminate nuisance wild boars, allowing them to be deployed anywhere in the state. The change is aimed at ensuring a quicker and more effective response in areas where wild boars enter human habitations. An order issued by the Forest and Wildlife Department on August 3 said shooters who were earlier allowed to operate only within the limits of the local body that appointed them can now work across Kerala, regardless of district boundaries.

The authority granted for this remains valid till May 27, 2027. Read Full Story According to the order, local self-government institutions have been empowered to appoint approved shooters to eliminate "problem wild boars that cause loss of human life, damage to agriculture and destruction of property" in human habitation areas. Under the earlier system, each local body maintained its own panel of approved shooters, and their services could be used only within that body's administrative limits. "It has been noticed that, in emergencies relating to human-wildlife conflict, the existing practice often becomes an obstacle to ensuring that the services of approved shooters are available effectively and in a time-bound manner across all parts of the state," the order said.

The decision came after the chief wildlife warden recommended that approved shooters be allowed to operate beyond the territorial limits of the local body that appointed them. Accepting the recommendation, the government said the services of shooters included in the approved panel of any local self-government institution "shall not be confined to the jurisdiction of the Local Self-Government Institution concerned. Instead, they may be deployed, as required, anywhere across the State, irrespective of district boundaries." The chief wildlife warden has been directed to take the necessary follow-up action to implement the order.

In effect, the government has changed the earlier system under which approved shooters could work only within one local body's area, and has allowed their deployment across Kerala to deal with nuisance wild boars more quickly. Ends With PTI inputs