Hunting of wild animals was one of the main recreational activities of kings and Britishers in the past. The population was less then. The area of ​​forest was much more. As times changed, laws were introduced to protect wild animals. Nowadays, even big shots like Salman khan will go behind bars if they hunt wild animals. It is essential to protect wild animals. At the same time, if the same law is applied to other creatures living in our localities, more and more people will end up in jail. The central government has issued a notification that raises such concerns.

Kerala is one of the states where there is a large number of crows, bats, rats, etc. The Centre has placed these under Schedule II. This means that killing such creatures will now be considered an offence punishable by three years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 25,000. According to the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act passed by the Parliament, animals included in Schedule II, the protected list, cannot be killed without permission. One can understand the inclusion of tiger and leopard in this. But what if the rat is also included in this? Such absurdity has been perpetrated by the new notification. Earlier, crows, bats, rats, etc. were placed under Schedule V which included vermins that destroy crops and spread diseases. They were creatures that man is allowed to kill. No one kills a crow in Kerala saying they have permission. People are afraid of bats after the Nipah outbreak. However, rats and rodents are often killed at homes and farms using rat poison and traps. People do so when the nuisance created by these creatures becomes unbearable. If a situation arises that a case can be filed for killing rats, the new notification may be misused by the wife against the husband and vice versa after a family dispute. We have come across several cases where POCSO Act was misused by people for personal vendettas.

Governments should show prudence not to trouble the people by recklessly implementing such laws that affect the peaceful lives of humans. Therefore the notification issued by including crows, rats, etc. in Schedule II should be revoked forthwith. It is necessary to restore the previous situation regarding these creatures. It has been mentioned in the same notification that the state wildlife boards can apply to the central government to list Schedule II species under the vermin category and kill them if they attack humans, crops, livestock or property, or proliferate uncontrollably. Taking this into account, the state government should urgently apply and take steps to include them in the vermin category in the state.