NEW DELHI: Five states have responded so far to the environment ministry's advisory of 2014 which had sought proposals from all state governments regarding wild animals that could be declared "vermin" under the Wildlife Protection Act. Gujarat in its proposal has claimed that nilgai numbers have increased from 41,644 to 1,86,770 in 2015, and with shrinking population of wild predators, their numbers are continuing to peak. This will only lead to endangering the wild boar species ," said C R Babu, ecologist and DU professor emeritus. The issue can be resolved only by scientific management of wild habitat. Uttarakhand, for instance, submitted that wild boars are affecting the livelihood of farmers in the hills and leading to their migration, but the proposal has no reference of their habitat management.

Source: Times of India June 13, 2016 01:08 UTC