Environmentalists and wildlife experts have raised concerns over the Kerala government's initiative to assess the carrying capacity of its forests and conduct a wildlife census to address human-wildlife conflict. Critics argue that this approach oversimplifies a complex ecological issue by focusing primarily on wildlife numbers while neglecting factors such as habitat degradation, forest fragmentation, and human pressures on ecosystems. Forest Minister Shibu Baby John announced a 100-day action plan aimed at mitigating conflicts, particularly in regions like Wayanad. He stated that the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) would be involved in studying the forests' capacity to support wildlife, especially elephants and tigers. However, experts like P.S. Easa insist that any assessment must consider human activities and their impacts on wildlife habitats. The Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi criticized the government's focus on carrying capacity, urging instead for studies on forest degradation and other pressing issues. They argue that restoring forest health is crucial for addressing the underlying causes of human-wildlife conflict.