Priyanka Gandhi seeks higher compensation for Wayanad human-animal conflict Victims

Priyanka said 90 people had been affected by human-animal conflict in Wayanad over the preceding year and questioned the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry on measures to increase compensation, particularly for farmers and ordinary residents facing losses.

Her intervention comes as Wayanad continues to deal with recurring encounters between people and wildlife. A recent study by researchers from Kannur University and the University of Geneva, based on responses from 998 people across 49 villages, found that 84% of respondents had experienced human-wildlife conflict. The study identified monkeys and wild boars as particularly frequent sources of distress and called for a more comprehensive compensation mechanism that accounts for repeated crop and property damage.

The issue has also been under discussion at the national level. In August, the Union Environment Ministry said human-wildlife conflict requires landscape-specific strategies, including early-warning systems, scientific monitoring, community participation and coordinated action between states. The ministry also highlighted the National Human-Wildlife Conflict Portal launched in July 2026.

Priyanka Gandhi had previously raised the issue in Parliament, where she said 90 people in Wayanad had been affected during the preceding year and urged the Centre to increase compensation for affected farmers and ordinary residents.

The demand comes amid growing calls for compensation systems to account not only for fatalities and major attacks but also for recurring agricultural and livelihood losses caused by wildlife.