If animals had religion, humans might be the devil: NALSA-KeLSA conference on Human-Wildlife conflict kicks off in Kerala

A two-day legal conference aimed at addressing the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the country kicked off in Kerala on Saturday..The conference organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) was inaugurated at the State capital Thiruvananthapuram and was attended by Supreme Court and High Court judges.Speaking at the event, Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh said that the conflict is one caused by human beings in the pursuit of boundless development. He used a WhatsApp message he received to frame the issue saying, "If animals could have a religion, man would be devil.".Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna highlighted the situational awareness of animals using an incident from Mangalore reported a few years ago."A leopard and a dog strayed into toilet in a farmhouse near Mangalore. The owner wasn’t aware of this and as usual in night he locked the toilet and went to sleep. In the morning when toilet door was opened, to his surprise, the leopard and dog both came out. What is meaning of this. This incident shows that animals also act in accordance with context they are situation aware and emotional beings in many ways. The leopard didn't eat up dog, because it knew both were ultimately captive", Justice Nagarathna explained. She added that while India has a culture that emphasises sharing space with all beings, the approach is now becoming more human-centric. "It appears from recent trends that the trajectory is towards human-centric approach and there is a disregard of a fundamental duty enshrined under 51(A)(G)," she said..If animals could have a religion, man would be devil..Justice Vikram Nath, who recently started helming a three-judge bench seized of the stray dogs issue in Delhi, said that the proceedings in the case has made him rather famous even outside the country. In good humour, he acknowledged the sensitive and controversial nature of the issue. "So long I have been known in the legal fraternity for the little work I do, but I am thankful to the stray dogs for making me known to the entire civil society, not only in this country but world over. And I am thankful to my CJI for allotting me that matter. Recently, we were in 'Law Asia Plio Summit'. The presidents of the lawyers association were there. So they started asking questions about stray dogs matter. I felt very elated that people outside India also know me. So I am thankful to them for giving me this recognition. And I am also been receiving messages saying that apart from dog lovers, dogs are also giving me blessings and good wishes. In addition to human blessings and good wishes, I have their good wishes also," he said. .Stray dogs: Supreme Court to frame national policy; directs NGOs, dog lovers before it to deposit ₹2 lakh, ₹25,000.Attorney General for India R Venkataramani remarked that the conference and future approach to human wildlife conflict must consider three facets of the issue - conflict avoidance, conflict management and conflict resolution."No one common regulatory framework for all of them may work," he added..Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev, Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Kerala High Court Justice A Muhamed Mustaque also spoke at the event.They opined that the topic is one of great importance to Kerala. As a small, biodiverse state with high population density, Kerala, has been witness to increasing human-animal conflicts. Multiple instances of wild boars and elephants clashing with people living near forest areas, often causing loss of both human and animal life and damage to farmland, have been reported. Chief Justice Jamdar pointed out that those who are affected in the State are often from the most vulnerable sections of society."Those who face the main affect of this conflict are the members of vulnerable sections of society—tribals and vulnerable communities. They are also entitled to protective umbrella of Legal Services Authority Act," he said.