Lok Sabha Question No. 3291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Black Panther & White Tiger
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OE ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3291

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2016

## Black Panther & White Tiger

## 3291.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) the population of black panther and white tigers in the country at present, State-wise;
- (b) whether  their  number  has  increased  during  the  last  three  years  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to increase their population;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up breeding centres for panther and tiger in the country including Jharkhand, if so, the time by which such centres are likely to be set up, State-wise; and
- (e) the  details  of  breeding  centres  for  other  species  of  wild  animals  functioning  in  the country, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a)

- & (b)

Black  Panther  and  White  Tiger  are  not  different  species/sub-species  of Leopard and Tiger respectively. It is due to hyper-melanism, and albinism in normal animals. There are no free ranging white tigers in India.

No leopard  census  has  been  undertaken  in  the  country  so  far.  However, during the national level estimation of tiger population by Wildlife Institute of India, an effort was also made to estimate the leopard populations across the  tiger  range  States  using  capture-recapture  frame  work  using  camera traps.  The  number  of  leopards  during  2014  population  estimation  in forested habitats of tiger range states is reported to be in the range of 65669181 animals.

OIH

- ( c ) The  important steps taken by the Government  to increase wildlife population including Leopards and Panthers are as given below:
- (i) Legal  protection  has  been  provided  to  wild  animals  including leopards 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)      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 including leopards and their habitats.
- (iv) Financial and technical 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 its habitat.
- (v) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  to  apprehend  and prosecute wildlife offenders.
- (vi) The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to ensure coordination  among  various  officers  and  State  Governments  in connection with the enforcement of law for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.
- (vii) Strict  vigil  is  maintained  by  the officials  of  State  Departments of Forests and Wildlife.
- (d) There  is  no  proposal  in  the  Ministry,  from  any  States/UT's  including Jharkhand, for setting up breeding centres for Panthers and Tigers.
- (e) Details of functioning breeding centres for other species of wild animals, as identified by the Central Zoo  Authority for Conservation Breeding Programme are at Annexure.

****

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFER TO IN REPLY TO PART (e)  OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  3291  REGARDING  'BLACK  PANTHER  &  WHITE  TIGER' RAISED BY SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH  DUE FOR REPLY ON 06.12.2016.

| Species                                        | Coordinating Zoo                                    | Participating Zoos                                                                                                                                                                             |
|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.Pygmy hog ( Sus salvanius )                  | Basistha                                            | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 2.White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)      | Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore       | a. Nehru Zoological Park ,Hyderabad b. Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal c. Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh d. Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar e. Rajabhatkhawa f. Assam State Zoo,Guwahati    |
| 3.Long billed vulture ( Gyps indicus )         | Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre , Pinjore      | a. Nehru Zoological Park , Hyderabad b. Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal c. Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh d. Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar e. Rajabhatkhawa& f. Assam State Zoo, Guwahati |
| 4.Slender billed vulture ( Gyps tenuirostris ) | Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre &Pinjore       | a. Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad b. Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal c. Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh d. Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar e. Rajabhatkhawa& f. Assam State Zoo, Guwahati  |
| 5.Red panda ( Ailurus fulgens )                | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling | a. Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok& b. Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital                                                                                                            |
| 6.Hangul ( Cervuselaphus hanglu )              | Shikargah                                           | --                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 7.Golden langur ( Trachypithecus geei )        | Assam State Zoo , Guwahati                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 8.Hoolock gibbon ( Hoolock leuconedys ),       | Biological Park, Itanagar                           | a. Aizawl Zoo b. Assam State Zoo, Guwahati & c. Sepahijala Zoological Park, Sepahijala                                                                                                         |
| 9.Clouded leopard                              | Sepahijala                                          | Assam State Zoo , Guwahati                                                                                                                                                                     |

| Species                                             | Coordinating Zoo                                    | Participating Zoos                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ( Panthera nebulosa )                               | Zoological Park, Sepahijala                         |                                                                                                                |
| 10. Snow leopard ( Panthera uncia )                 | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling | a. Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri b. Pt. GovindBallabh Pant Zoo, Nainital& c. Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok |
| 11. Rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis )             | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                           | a. Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna b. National Zoological Park, Delhi& c. Kanpur Zoo, Kanpur              |
| 12. Indian Pangolin ( Manis crassicaudata )         | Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar            | --                                                                                                             |
| 13. Thamin deer ( Cervus eldii )                    | Manipur Zoological Park, Iroisemba                  | a. Assam State Zoo , Guwahati b. Alipore Zoo, Kolkata & c. National Zoological Park, Delhi                     |
| 14. Western tragopan ( Tragopan melanocephalus )    | Sarahan Pheasantry, Sarahan                         | --                                                                                                             |
| 15. Phayre's leaf monkey ( Trachypithecus phayrei ) | Sepahijala Zoological Park, Sepahijala              | --                                                                                                             |
| 16. Crab eating monkey ( Macaca fascicularis )      | Biological Park, Chidiyatapu (Port Blair)           | --                                                                                                             |
| 17. Nilgiri langur ( Semnopithecus johnii )         | Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai               | Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Park, Mysore                                                                      |
| 18. Lion tailed macaque ( Macacasilenus )           | Arignar Anna Zoological Park Chennai                | a. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Park Mysore& b. Thiruvananthapuram Zoo                                         |
| 19. Blyth's tragopan ( Tragopanblythii )            | Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar                | --                                                                                                             |
| 20. Painted roof turtle ( Batagur kachuga )         | Kukrail                                             | Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre For Herpetology, Mamallapuram                                               |
| 21. Hume's pheasant ( Syrmaticus humiae humaie )    | Aizawl Zoological Park, Aizawl                      | --                                                                                                             |

| Species                                       | Coordinating Zoo                                | Participating Zoos                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22. Asiatic lion ( Panthera leo )             | Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh                        | a. Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, b. Van Vihar National Prk Zoo, Bhopal, c. National Zoological Park, New Delhi & d. Rajkot Zoological Park |
| 23. Mouse deer ( Tragulus meminna )           | Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad                | Nandankanan Zoologial Park, Bhubaneswar                                                                                                        |
| 24. Binturong ( Arctictis binturong )         | Sepahijala Zoological Park, Sepahijala          | a. Assam State Zoo, Guwahati & b. Aizawl Zoological Park, Aizawl                                                                               |
| 25. Pig-tailed monkey ( Macaca nemestrina )   | Sepahijala Zoological Park, Sepahijala          | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                                                                                                                      |
| 26. Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris )          | Van Vihar National Park Zoo, Bhopal             | a. National Zoological Park, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Chhatbir, Chennai                                                              |
| 27. Capped langur ( Trachypithecus pileatus ) | Rangapahar                                      | --                                                                                                                                             |
| 28. Brown bear ( Ursus arctos )               | Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri                    |                                                                                                                                                |
| 29. Nicobar pigeon ( Caloenas nicobarica )    | Biological Park, Chidiyatapu, Port Blair        | a. Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden, Ahmedabad,& b. Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata                                                           |
| 30. Himalayan monal ( Lophophorus impejanus ) | Manali                                          | a. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, b. Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok                                                  |
| 31. Stump tailed monkey ( Macaca radiate )    | Aizawl Zoo, Aizawl                              | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                                                                                                                      |
| 32. Indian gaur ( Bos gaurus )                | Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysuru    | a. Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, b. Bondla Zoo, Usgao, Goa                                                                            |
| 33. Swamp deer ( Cervus duvauceli )           | Nawab Wazid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, Lucknow |                                                                                                                                                |

| Species                                                 | Coordinating Zoo                                     | Participating Zoos                                                                                                      |
|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 34. Tibetan wolf ( Canis himalayensis )                 | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, | a. Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok, b. Pt. G.B. Pant High Alititude Zoo, Nainital, & c. Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri |
| 35. Malabar grey hornbill ( Ocyceros griseus )          | Mini Zoo, Kaprikkad (Kodanadu)                       | Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad                                                                                        |
| 36. King cobra ( Ophiophagus Hannah )                   | Pilikula Biological Park, Mangaluru                  | a. Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru& b. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust / Centre for Herpetology, Mamallapuram       |
| 37. Cheer pheasant ( Catreus wallichi )                 | Chail                                                | Mini Zoo, Almora                                                                                                        |
| 38. Himalayan salamander ( Tyletotriton verrucosus )    | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling  | --                                                                                                                      |
| 39. Grey wolf (Canis lupus)                             | Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh                             |                                                                                                                         |
| 40. Himalayan tahr ( Hemitragus jemlahicus )            | Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok                   | a. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, & b. Himalayan Nature Park, Kufri                               |
| 41. Serow ( Nemorhaedus sumatraensis )                  | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                            | Manipur Zoological Garden, Iroisemba                                                                                    |
| 42. Grey Peacock pheasant ( Polyplectron bicalcaratum ) | Assam State Zoo, Guwahati                            | a. Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata, & b. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling                        |
| 43. Malabar pied hornbill ( Anthracoceros coronatus )   | Mini Zoo, Kaprikkad (Kodanadu)                       | Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad                                                                                        |
| 44. Rusty-spotted cat ( Prionailurus rubiginosus )      | Sanjay Gandhi National Park- Zoo, Borivali           | Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Pune                                                                                      |
| 45. Wild dog ( Cuon alpinus )                           | Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam         | Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai                                                                                   |
| 46. Malabar giant squirrel ( Ratufa sp )                | Pilikula Biological Park,                            | a. Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, b. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Pune                                         |

| Species                                             | Coordinating Zoo                           | Participating Zoos                                                                                      |
|-----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                     | Mangaluru                                  |                                                                                                         |
| 47. Grey jungle fowl ( Gallus sonnerati )           | Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati | --                                                                                                      |
| 48. Blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur )                  | Himalayan Zoological Park, Gangtok         | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling                                                     |
| 49. Chosinga ( Tetracerus quadricornis )            | Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh                   | a. Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati, b. Bhagawan Birsa Biological Park, Ranchi                |
| 50. Smooth coated otter ( Lutrogale perspicillata ) | Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden, Ahmedabad   |                                                                                                         |
| 51. Chinkara ( Gazella bennettii )                  | Meham                                      | a. Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh, b. Indroda Nature Park Zoo, Gandhinagar, c. M.C. Zoological Park, Chhatbir |
| 52. Giant flying squirrel ( Ratufa indica )         | Bhagawan Birsa Biological Park, Ranchi     |                                                                                                         |
| 53. Red jungle fowl ( Gallus gallus gallus )        | Morni                                      | a. National Zoological Park, New Delhi, & b. Aizawl Zoo, Aizawl                                         |