Lok Sabha Question No. 4192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Extinction of Animals/Birds Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Queen Oja, Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Shankar Lalwani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4192

TO BE ANSWERED ON  13.12.2019

## Extinction of Animals/Birds Species

## 4192.  SHRIMATI QUEEN OJA:

DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

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

- (a) the number of species of animals/birds which have become extinct during the last twenty years;
- (b) whether the Government has ascertained the reasons for the same and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps being taken/likely to be taken by the Government to protect the various rare species of animals/birds that are on the verge of extinction?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As informed by the  Zoological  Survey  of  India,  no  animal  or  bird  species  in India have become extinct in the last 20 years.
- (b) In view of (a) above, the question does not arise.
- (c) The  Ministry  has  taken  the  following  important  steps  to  protect  the  wildlife including rare  species of animals and birds and their habitats:
- i. 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,  birds    and  their habitats.
- ii. Enhanced financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', which inter-alia , includes Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and Project Elephant, for  providing  better  protection  to  wildlife  including  rare  species  of animals/birds  and improvement of habitat.
- iii. A  specific  component  of  'Recovery  programmes  for  saving  critically endangered species and habitats' is provided in the on-going  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'  for focused conservation    action  on  21  identified  critically    endangered  species including Humpback whale, Gangetic dolphins, Snow leopard, Hangul, Sangai    deer,    Marine  turtle,  Bustards,  Edible-nest  Swiftlet,  Nicobar megapode, Jerdon's Courser and vultures. Financial assistance is provided  to  States/UT  Governments  for  recovery  programme  of  the critically endangered species of birds and animals.
- iv. 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).
- 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, including peacocks, and to achieve inter-state and transboundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.

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