State liable to compensate for injury or damage caused by wild animal attacks: Kerala High Court

The State government is deemed the owner and custodian of wild animals and must compensate victims of wild animal attacks in accordance with the magnitude of the loss suffered, the Kerala High court has held.Justice C.P. Mohammed Nias dismissed the appeal filed by the Wildlife Warden, Kurichiyadu Range, Sulthan Bathery, and other Forest authorities challenging the award of ₹2 lakh as compensation to the family of a person who had died after an elephant attack. The court upheld the findings by the Sub Court, Sulthan Bathery, and the District Court, Wayanad, granting ₹1,78,000 to the victim’s family and holding the Forest authorities responsible for the death of the victim.The Forest department contended before the High Court that the sub court and the district court ignored the Kerala Rules