Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will launch the State government’s new mission for agricultural revitalisation and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict at a public meeting in Kozhikode city on Sunday (August 31, 2025).
At the meeting, which is expected to discuss the rural farmers’ concerns over the rampant wild animal menace and crop loss, the Chief Minister will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with various institutions for special projects implemented under the intensive human-wildlife conflict mitigation programmes.
Forest department officials confirm that the MoUs signed as part of the conflict mitigation programmes will be supported by the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Spices Board, Kerala Forest Development Corporation, and the Indian Forest Service. Two colleges— MES Mampad and Cochin— will also join the initiate, they add.
On Sunday, the Chief Minister will also launch the operation of Primary Response Teams (PRT) who will work as first respondents during human-animal conflicts and coordinate the local rescue activities with the support of the Forest department. He will announce the smart fencing project proposed around vulnerable areas and release an exclusive ecotourism mobile app.
“Release of the plan for scientific rehabilitation and population control of native monkeys, announcement of the Aralam butterfly village project, and the inauguration of the second phase of ‘Gothrabheri’— which incorporates the traditional knowledge of tribal communities to mitigate human-animal conflict— are also part of the Sunday’s meeting,” said a senior Forest department officer entrusted with the project coordination. He said Vidhya Raju, a senior snake rescuer in the State, would be honoured in connection with the release of the State’s latest manual for the rescue and release of snakes.
Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran, Minister for Public Works P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and senior Forest department officers will take part in the public meeting and the launching ceremony of various State-level projects.
Published – August 31, 2025 12:48 am IST
