The disasterification of human–wildlife conflict: policy implications and ethical considerations

Abstract

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is increasingly recognized as a critical socio-political issue in Kerala, South India. In response to the rise in HWC, the Kerala government classified it as a state-specific disaster, a move that significantly impacts wildlife conservation efforts and policy development. “Disasterification” or designating situations as disasters to mobilize emergency measures and administrative responses alter management and response strategies, often leading to negative outcomes for either wildlife or people. There are administrative and financial benefits of declaring human–wildlife conflict (HWC) as a disaster. However, there are also important ethical considerations, including anthropocentrism and the influence of disasterification on public perception and policy responses toward wildlife conservation and coexistence. Disasterification often portrays any human–wildlife interaction as dangerous, leading to extreme measures against wildlife deemed aberrant.