Lok Sabha Question No. 1187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Protection of Animals/Birds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS, HARISH DWIVEDI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1187

TO BE ANSWERED ON  22.12.2017

## Protection of Animals/Birds

## 1187. SHRI RADHESHYAM  BISWAS: SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether the several animals/birds including peacock, blackbucks, sparrow, honey-bee are vanishing from the environment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to prevent such irreparable loss of precious animals/birds from the environment; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) It  is  a  fact  that  few  species  of  animals  and  birds  including  sparrow  are decreasing. However, the species are not vanishing from the environment. As per  the  Red  List  version  2017-3  published  by  the  International  Union  for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 94 species of mammals, 89 species of birds, 54 species  of  reptiles,  75  species  of  amphibians,  228  species  of  fish  and  135 species of invertebrates in India are listed as 'Critically Endangered' (Extremely high  risk  of  extinction),  'Endangered'  (Very  high  risk  of  extinction)  and 'Vulnerable' (High risk of extinction).
- (b) and (c) The Ministry has taken the following important steps to protect the endangered wildlife species and their habitats:
- 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. Increase  in  Protected  Areas,  viz.,  National  Parks,  Sanctuaries,  Tiger Reserves,  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.
- iii. Enhanced 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 peacock, and improvement of habitat.
- iv. The Ministry has taken up the initiative for conservation breeding of the critically  endangered  species,  like  Asiatic  Lion,  Great  Indian  Bustard, Gangetic Dolphins, Manipur Brow Antler Deer, Vultures, etc. under the Endangered Species Recovery Programme Scheme.
- v. The local communities are involved in conservation measures through eco-development activities who help the forest department in protection of wildlife.
- vi. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau activities have been intensified to gather intelligence  about  poaching  and  unlawful  trade  in  wild  animals  and animal articles, including peacocks, and to achieve inter-state and transboundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.

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