Lok Sabha Question No. 1478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Population of Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SAKSHI SWAMI MAHARAJ

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1478

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2017

## Population of Wild Animals

## 1478. DR.  SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ:

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

- (a) whether  the  number  of  wild  animals  especially  lions,  tigers,  elephants,  rhinos  etc.  is decreasing in various forests/national parks in the country including Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for the protection of wild life?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)&(b) No, Sir. The number of wild animals especially lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos are  not  decreasing  in  various  forests/national  parks  in  the  country  including Uttar Pradesh. A comparative estimated population of tigers, elephants, rhino and lions, as available with the Ministry, is given in the Annexure.
- (c) The steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  protection  of    wild  animals  and their habitats include:
- i. The  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  for  punishment  for violation of its provisions.
- ii. 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. 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 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.
- 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  and  to  achieve  inter-state  and  trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.

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## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)AND (b)OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1478 REGARDING 'POPULATION OF WILD ANIMALS' BY DR.  SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ DUE FOR REPLY ON 25.7.2017.

## Comparative estimated population of tigers, elephants, rhino and lions

| Name of the species   | No. and Year of Census   | No. and Year of Census   |
|-----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Tiger                 | 1706 (2010)              | 2226 (2014)              |
| Elephant              | 27669-27719 (2007)       | 29391-30711 (2012)       |
| Lion                  | 411 (2010)               | 523 (2015)               |

## Population of Rhinoceros as reported by States

| Name of state   | No. of rhinoceros (Year of Census)   | No. of rhinoceros (Year of Census)   |
|-----------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Assam           | 2505 (2012)                          | 2624 (2015)                          |
| Uttar Pradesh   | 30                                   | 33 (2017)                            |
| West Bengal     | 229 (2013)                           | 255 (2015)                           |