We often hear disturbing news from Andhra Pradesh. One wonder what is the wildlife left in the state despite having good forest cover.

What an ill-conceived plan this culling is.. Wildpigs are gregarious and prolific breeders. When their numbers swell, it is obvious that we have thinned out its predators - primarily leopards, tigers and wilddogs.

Extending stringent protection to predators will ensure biological control on pig numbers. Culling is not an option.

For time being score of other options are available to keep them off the fields which officials should explore in a wide manner. A central African country had similar concern with warthogs (African version of wildpigs) and they had effectively reduced the conflicts through novel innovative ideas.