Lok Sabha Question No. 3423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Death of Endangered Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3423

TO BE ANSWERED ON  06.12.2016

## Death of Endangered Animals

## 3423.  SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

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

- (a) the number of death of endangered animals reported during each of the last three years in the country, animal and State-wise;
- (b) whether  any  agency  is  entrusted  with  the  responsibility  of  maintaining  nation-wide count/data in this regard;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  steps  being  taken  to  monitor  the  population  of endangered animals and conservation efforts; and
- (d) the steps being taken to bring down unnatural deaths of such animals caused by human activities like, mowing-down by speeding vehicles including train, poisoning, electrocution, etc.?

## ANSWER

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

- (a), (b) and (c) The number of deaths of endangered animals in the country is not collated at  the  level  of  the  Ministry.  The  management  of  National  Parks  and Wildlife Sanctuaries, including census of wild animals, control of poaching of wild life, etc., is the responsibility of the respective State/ UT Governments. However, State-wise details of Tiger mortality, as informed by  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  during  the  last  three years in the country is at ANNEXURE-I
- (d) The steps taken to bring down unnatural deaths of such animals caused by poaching  and  human  activities  like,  mowing-down  by  speeding  vehicles including train, poisoning, electrocution etc. is at ANNEXURE-II

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## Annexure-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3423 REGARDING 'DEATH OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS' BY SHRI M. CHANDRAKASHI DUE FOR REPLY ON 06.12.2016.

## Tiger mortality, as reported by States, during the last three years in the country, State-wise

| S. No.   | States            | 2013           | 2013                                 | 2013                    | 2014           | 2014                                 | 2014                    | 2015           | 2015                                 | 2015                    |
|----------|-------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|
|          |                   | Under Scrutiny | Confirmed poaching including seizure | Natural and Other cases | Under Scrutiny | Confirmed poaching including seizure | Natural and Other cases | Under Scrutiny | Confirmed poaching including seizure | Natural and Other cases |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | 3                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       |
| 3        | Assam             | 6              | 2                                    |                         | 5              | -                                    | 1                       | 4              | 1                                    |                         |
| 4        | Bihar             | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | 3                       | -              | -                                    | 2                       |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | 2                                    | -                       | -              | 1                                    | -                       |
| 6        | Jharkhand         | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       |
| 7        | Karnataka         | 4              | 4                                    | 7                       | 2              | -                                    | 5                       | 1              | 3                                    | 11                      |
| 8        | Kerala            | 1              | 3                                    | 2                       | 2              | 1                                    | 1                       | -              | -                                    | 6                       |
| 9        | Madhya Pradesh    |                | 2                                    | 8                       | 1              | 3                                    | 12                      | 3              | 1                                    | 9                       |
| 10       | Maharashtra       | 2              | 3                                    | 6                       | 1              | 4                                    | 5                       | 9              | 1                                    | 2                       |
| 11       | Mizoram           | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       |
| 12       | Nagaland          | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       | -              | -                                    | -                       |

| 13   | Odisha        | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   | -   |
|------|---------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
| 14   | Rajasthan     | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   |
| 15   | Tamil Nadu    |     | -   | 2   | 3   | 4   | 10  |     | -   | 5   |
| 16   | Uttarakhand   | 12  | -   | -   | 5   | -   | 3   | 8   | 1   | -   |
| 17   | Uttar Pradesh | 1   | -   | -   | 2   | -   | -   | -   | 4   | -   |
| 18   | West Bengal   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 3   |
| 19   | Goa           | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| 20   | Telangana     | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | 1   | -   |
|      | Total         | 28  | 14  | 26  | 21  | 18  | 40  | 26  | 14  | 38  |

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## Annexure-II

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3423 REGARDING 'DEATH OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS' BY SHRI M. CHANDRAKASHI DUE FOR REPLY ON 06.12.2016.

## Important steps taken to bring down unnatural deaths of wild animals

-  The  Central  Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  under  the Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats', 'Project  Tiger',  'Project  Elephant'  for  protection,  infrastructure  and  anti  poaching operations  (including  deployment  of    special  forces  like  Tiger  Protection  Force Special Tiger Protection Force  and Special Rhino Protection Force).
-  Information technology for improved surveillance (like e-Eye system, Camera traps etc.) using thermal cameras are utilized by the State Forest Department.
-  The States are assisted to refine protection oriented monitoring through monitoring system for tiger's intensive protection and ecological status (M-STrIPES).
-  Initiatives are taken for collaboration of National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  towards  an  online  tiger  /  wildlife  crime  tracking  / reporting system in tiger reserves and to coordinate with INTERPOL for checking trans-border trade of wildlife products.
-  Speed  check  of  vehicles  passing  through  roads  inside  Protected  Areas  by  speed regulation, night traffic ban and having coordination with railway authorities.
-  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders.
-  Harmful drug like Diclofenac, that impact critically endangered species like Vultures have been banned.
-  State/ UT Governments have been requested to identify vulnerable areas in National Highways  and  Indian  Railways  networks,  passing  through  wildlife  habitats,  for appropriate signage and warning signals for drivers.

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