Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan launches Project HANUMAN to curb human-wildlife conflict

Key facts

• Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan launched Project HANUMAN (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nurturing) to tackle human-wildlife conflict in Chittoor and Parvathipuram Manyam districts.
• The project deploys 100 GPS-enabled vehicles comprising 93 Rapid Response vehicles and 7 Wildlife Ambulances.
• Four Wildlife Rescue and Treatment Centres are being established under the initiative.
• Ex-gratia compensation for wildlife attack victims has been raised to Rs. 10 lakhs for deaths and Rs. 2 lakhs for injuries.
• AI-based early warning systems will be implemented in vulnerable villages.
• The Central Government enhanced ex-gratia from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs in December 2023 under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger and Elephant'.
• Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in Lok Sabha that elephants caused 21 human deaths in Andhra Pradesh from 2019 to 2023.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was amended in 2022 to rationalise listings of wild animals in Schedules I and II.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued guidelines advising States and Union Territories to utilise provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for managing human-wildlife conflict situations.