Chennai. Kerala Government’s Agriculture Minister P. Prasad has demanded permission to eat wild boar meat. He claimed that if this is allowed then the damage caused to crops by these animals will be greatly reduced, after which they can be dealt with in a better way. Prasad said that wild boar is not an endangered species and hence there is no hindrance in allowing consumption of its meat.
We want this to happen but the central law does not allow it, Prasad said while addressing the locals at an event organized by Palamel Gram Panchayat in Alappuzha district. He claimed, “In my opinion, people should be allowed to eat the meat of wild pigs killed in farms. If people are allowed to kill wild pigs and eat their meat, the issue can be resolved much faster. But the current law does not allow this.”
It is noteworthy that this comment of Prasad came a few days after the Kerala Assembly passed a bill to amend the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The objective of this bill is to reduce the increasing incidents of man-animal conflict in the state.
Let us tell you that in India, wild boar has been kept in list three like Wildlife Protection Act 1972. This means that it is a protected species. Because of this, it is illegal to hunt, kill, or possess its meat without permission. Doing so can result in a jail term of up to three years, a fine of Rs 25,000 or both. However, this matter is not the same everywhere. Many states, such as Kerala, Bihar, Uttarakhand have classified it as a harmful organism. It is legal to kill it with the permission of the local administration and forest department of these states. However, even after this it is not legal to sell or keep its meat. There are many misconceptions and legal fears about wild boar. That’s why people are seen avoiding eating its meat.