“If Animals Had a Religion, Man Would Be Devil”: Justice MM Sundresh at Kerala Human-Wildlife Conflict Conference
The two-day NALSA–KeLSA legal conference on human-wildlife conflict began on 30th August in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Supreme Court and High Court judges, along with senior legal authorities, participated in the event which highlighted the urgent need to address rising conflicts between humans and animals.
Justice MM Sundresh remarked that reckless human activities in the name of development are the root cause of such conflicts. Referring to a WhatsApp message, he said, “If animals could have a religion, man would be devil.”
Justice BV Nagarathna narrated an incident from Mangalore where a leopard and a dog were locked overnight in a farmhouse toilet. Surprisingly, the leopard did not harm the dog. She explained that this showed animals too have situational awareness and emotions, often acting in harmony rather than aggression.
Justice Vikram Nath, known for his involvement in stray dog-related cases, humorously said that his recognition today is due to dogs, as their issue has made him well-known even beyond the legal community.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani stressed that a uniform regulatory framework cannot resolve human-wildlife conflict. Instead, a balanced approach focusing on avoidance, management, and resolution is required.
Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeev and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar also underlined the seriousness of the problem. Justice Jamdar noted that vulnerable groups, especially tribals, are the most affected by such conflicts, and must be given legal protection.
Kerala, being both densely populated and rich in biodiversity, faces frequent clashes between humans and wild animals, especially elephants and wild boars. These incidents have led to loss of life, damage to crops, and distress for local communities.
