Lok Sabha Question No. 4724 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Conservation of Endangered Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4724

TO BE ANSWERED ON  23.03.2018

## Conservation of Endangered Species

4724.  SHRI P.RSUNDARAM: DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will  the  Minister  of ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the  Government has taken note of the increasing  problems  of  conservation  of endangered species in the country including leopards;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the total estimated number of leopards in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  as  per  the  data  revealed  by  the  Wildlife  Protection  Society  of  India,  several leopards died in the country in the year 2018, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure the protection of all the wild animals including leopards; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)and (b) Conservation  of  endangered  species  in  the  country  does  pose  certain challenges.  With  a  view  to  overcome  these  challenges,  Government  has taken  several  measures  including  creation  of  Sanctuaries,  National  Parks, Conservation Reserve, Community Reserve, Tiger Reserve for conservation  and  protection  of  wildlife  and  its  habitats.  Management  of wildlife  and  its  habitats  is  the  mandate  of  the  concerned  State/Union Territories Governments.

Except  tiger  and  elephant,  census  of  wild  animals  including  leopards  is carried  out  at  the  State-level  by  the  respective  States.  Information  on population of leopard in the States/Union Territories is not collated in the Ministry.

- (c) Cases of death of wild animals including leopards have come to the notice of this Ministry. The management and protection of wildlife is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State/ Union  Territory  Governments. Information on death of wild animals including leopards in the States/Union Territories is not collated in the Ministry.

The death of animals including leopards is attributed to various factors like diseases, in-fighting, natural death, poaching etc.

- (d)and(e) The  measures  taken  by  the  Government  for  protection  of  wild  animals including leopards are:
- i. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation  of  its  provisions.  The  Act  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of any  equipment,  vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing wildlife offence(s).
- ii. Law  enforcement  authorities  in  the  States  maintain  strict  vigil against poaching of wild animals.
- iii. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
- iv. The  State/Union  Territory  Governments  have  been  requested  to strengthen  the  field  formations  and  intensify  patrolling  in  and around Protected Areas.
- v. Protected  Areas,  viz.,  National  Parks,  Sanctuaries,  Conservation Reserves  and  Community  Reserves  covering  important  wildlife habitats have been created all over the country under the provisions of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  to  conserve  wild  animals and their habitats.
- vi. Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant', for providing better protection to wildlife including leopards and improvement of habitat.