Lok Sabha Question No. 4402 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Wildlife Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram, Feroze Varun Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4402

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020.

## Wildlife Conservation

## 4402.   SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to steer the approach from wildlife protection to a more holistic wildlife conservation in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has carried out any research on the need for the same and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether certain species of birds and animals have become endangered in the country in the last decade due to lack of conservation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government for the protection of endangered and exotic species of flora and fauna; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to stop illegal poaching and hunting of wildlife?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

- (a) & (b) Ministry  has  launched  National  Wildlife  Action  Plan  2017-2031  which  lays emphasis on holistic wildlife conservation.
- (c) Till recently, 17 species were identified under the Species Recovery Programme of the Ministry. These are the Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans), Dolphin, Hangul, NilgiriTahr, Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo,  Nicobar  Megapode,  Manipur  Brow-antlered  Deer,  Vultures,  Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdon's Courser. In year 2018, Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale and  Red  Panda  have  been  included  in  the  Recovery  Programme  for  Critically Endangered Species.
- (d) India is a signatory of Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention  of  Migratory  Species  of  Wild  Animals,  Convention  on  Biological Diversity and thus ensures protection of endangered and exotic species of flora and fauna .
- (e) The  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  protection  of  endangered  and  exotic species of flora and fauna are as follows:
- (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) Law  enforcement  authorities  in  the  States  maintain  strict  vigil  against poaching of wild animals.
- (iii) Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up 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.
- (iv) The State/Union Territory Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensify patrolling in and around Protected Areas.
- (v) 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 and their habitats.
- (vi) Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Development  of  Wildlife Habitats',  'Project  Tiger'  and  'Project  Elephant',  for  providing  better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.

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