WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT

&ITS IMPORTANCE

INTRODUCTION• Our country India is one of the 12 mega

biodiversity in the world. With about 47,000 plant species India occupies tenth place in world and fourth place in Asia. There are about 15,000 flowering plants which accounts for 6percent of world’s total. The country also has many non-flowering plants such as algae, ferns etc. India also 89,000 species of animals as well as a rich variety of fish in fresh and marine waters.

IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE• Wildlife includes all undomesticated life's from microorganisms to vegetation and fungi as well.

• We are dependent on wildlife in one way or another.

• The clothes we wear, the food we eat, the houses we build, the paper we write and the air we breathe all come from nature and wildlife.

MAJOR DANGERS TO WILDLIFE

Climate changeUnregulated Hunting and poaching

PollutionOver exploitationDeforestation

PopulationUse of plastics

EVOLUTION• India owns an immense variety of flora and fauna. Wildlife is one of our basic and natural resources that satisfies the needs. Therefore, this resource must be conserved, preserved and protected for the existence of mankind.

WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT• The Wildlife Protection Act was passed by the Indian

Parliament in the year 1972 to protect India’s wildlife.. With the increase in population, there is greater pressure on land. Forests are being destroyed as human habitations expand, thereby shrinking the habitats of our wildlife. There is also the clandestine international trade in wildlife and wildlife products which is a major cause for their wanton destruction. Meanwhile, the growing consumer society and the increasing emphasis on luxury and vanity items has also caused the exploitation of wildlife in the name of industrial progress. The region's rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in 120+ national parks, 18 Bio-reserves and 500+ wildlife sanctuaries across the country.

• There are six schedules which give varying degrees of protection. Out of the six schedules , Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection and offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties. The penalties for Schedule III and Schedule IV are less and these animals are protected. Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted. These are Common crow , Fruit bats, Mice & Rats only. Schedule VI contains the plants, which are prohibited from cultivation and planting. These plants are as follows Beddomes’ cycad (Cycas beddomei) Blue Vanda (Vanda soerulec) Kuth (Saussurea lappa) Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.) Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana) Red Vanda (Rananthera inschootiana)]

• Hunting (Section 9) Hunting of wild animals is prohibited.• Penalties (Section 51) Penalties are prescribed in section

51. Enforcement can be performed by agencies such as the Forest Department, the Police, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the Customs and the Central bureau of Investigation (CBI). Charge sheets can be filed directly by the Forest Department. Other enforcement agencies, often due to the lack of technical expertise, hand over cases to the Forest Department.

S. No.Short title of amending

legislationNo. Year

1Wild Life (Protection )

Amendment Act 19821982

2Wild Life (Protection )

Amendment Act 19861986

3Wild Life (Protection )

Amendment Act 19911991

4Wild Life (Protection )

Amendment Act 19931993

4Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act,

2002

2002

5Wild Life (Protection ) Amendment Act 2006

2006

6 Wild Life (Protection ) Amendment Act 2013

2013

• Amendments. The code has been amended several times.• The 2002 Amendment Act which came into force in January, 2003 have

made punishment and penalty for offences under the Act more stringent.• Offences• For offences relating to wild animals (or their parts and products) included

in schedule-I or part II of Schedule- II and those relating to hunting or altering the boundaries of a sanctuary or national park the punishment and penalty have been enhanced, the minimum imprisonment prescribed is three years which may extend to seven years, with a minimum fine of Rs. 10,000/-. For a subsequent offence of this nature, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years with a minimum fine of Rs. 25,000.

• Offences not pertaining to hunting of endangered species

• Offences related to trade and commerce in trophies, animals articles etc. derived from certain animals (except chapter V A and section 38J) attracts a term of imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine up to Rs. 25,000/-.

• The major task of protecting wildlife cannot be handled by the Government machinery alone through its limited officials, but should be the duty of every individual. This was one of the reasons why a new provision, Article 51 A (g), was inserted into our Constitution, making it the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

THANK YOU