Lok Sabha Question No. 2000 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: One Horn Rhinoceros
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMESWAR TELI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2000

TO BE ANSWERED ON  14.03.2017

## One Horn Rhinoceros

## 2000.  SHRI RAMESWAR TELI :

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

- (a) whether the Government has any comprehensive plan for conservation and protection of rare Indian one horn rhinoceros in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step  to  prevent  the  rampant  poaching  of  these endangered animals;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  effort  to  seek  global  support  to  close  the clandestine international black market of rhino horn and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros is one of the seventeen species identified for  Recovery  programme  for  critically  endangered  species,  a  component under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitats. Under this scheme Central assistance is provided for the recovery and protection of the species.

Most  of  the  habitats  of  Great  Indian  one-horned  rhinoceros  have  been covered under Project Tiger. These include Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Manas Tiger Reserve, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

Jaldapara  Wildlife  Sanctuary  of  West  Bengal;  Orang  National  Park  and Pobitora  Wildlife  Sanctuary  of  Assam  are  also  dedicated  for  conservation areas of Great Indian one horned rhinoceros.

- (b)&(c) The Government has taken following steps  to  prevent poaching  of  wild

animals including  Rhinoceros in the country:

- i. Legal protection has been provided to wild animals including rhinoceros  against  hunting  and  commercial  exploitation  under  the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- ii. In addition to provision of stringent punishment for the offenders, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 also provides for forfeiture of any equipment,  vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing  wildlife offence(s).
- iii. Financial  and  technical  assistance  is  provided  to  the  State/  Union Territory  Governments  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  for providing better protection to wildlife including  endangered species like Rhinoceros and improvement of its habitat.
- iv. The  Central  Bureau  of  Investigation  (CBI)  has  been  empowered under  the Wild  Life (Protection) Act,  1972  to  apprehend  and prosecute wildlife offenders.
- v. The  State/Union  Territory  Governments  have  been  requested  to intensify patrolling in and around the Protected Areas.
- vi. Strict  vigil  is  maintained  by  the  officials  of  State  Departments  of Forests and Wildlife.
7. (d) India is a party to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of  wild  fauna  and  flora  (CITES)  which  regulates  the  international  trade  in specimens  of  wild  animals  and  plants  including  Rhinos  so  it  does  not threaten their survival.  India has adopted the statute of South Asian Wildlife Enforcement  Network  (SAWEN)  set  up  to  control  illegal  wildlife  trade  in South  Asia  for  strengthening  the  network  for  controlling  illegal  trade  of wildlife  articles.    This  Ministry  has  also  appointed  Additional  Director, Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau    as  focal  point  for  CITES  Task  Force  for dealing matters  related to illegal trade  of rhino  horns in India.

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