Lok Sabha Question No. 931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Regulations on Culling of Vermin Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Uttam Kumar Nalamada Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 931.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019.

## Regulations on Culling of Vermin Species

## 931.  SHRI UTTAM KUMAR REDDY NALAMADA:

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

- (a) whether there are any regulations on the culling of vermin species to ensure that  their populations are protected and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  a  body  to  oversee  the  inclusion  of species in the list of vermin species and to ensure that culling is carried out sustainably and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there are any measures in place to ensure that there is no collateral damage to other species due to measures such as electric fences, traps, snares which are set up to protect human interests from vermin species;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other measures taken by the Government to reduce human-wildlife conflicts?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)& (b) The Section 62 of the   Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides that the Central Government  may,  by  notification,  declare  any  wild  animal  other  than  those specified in Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II to be vermin for any area and for such period as may be specified therein and so long as such notification is in force, such wild animal shall be deemed to have been included in Schedule V.

The  Central  Government  on  receipt  of  proposals  from  the  State  Governments, giving justification for declaring any wild animals as vermin, is competent to notify such wild animal as vermin. The Ministry in the past has notified some of the wild animals as vermin on receipt of the request of the State Government.

- (c)  & (d) As per the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 hunting including  capturing, coursing, snaring, trapping, driving or baiting any wild or captive animal  is prohibited under Section 11 of the Wildlife protection Act 1972.
- (e) The measures taken by the Government to reduce human-wildlife conflicts are as follows:
- i. Ministry  through  its  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS)  namely  'Project Tiger',  'Project  Elephant'  and  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats  (DWH)' provides  funds  to  States  and  UTs  for  carrying  various  activities  for  habitat improvement  works  namely  restoration  of  natural  water  bodies,  creation  of artificial ponds, waterholes, augmenting food/fodder sources at various places within Protected Areas to minimize the human wildlife conflict.
- ii. A  network  of  Protected  Areas  namely  viz.,  National  Park,  Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitat 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. Construction/erecting  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop field.
- iv. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures' for population management of wild animals.
- v. The Ministry has issued guidelines in context of human-wildlife conflict to the Chief Wildlife Wardens  of all the State Governments/Union  Territory Administrations dated 24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015.
- vi. To  mitigate  wildlife  conflict  along  the  linear  infrastructures  like  rail  tracks, roads/highways  and  power  transmission  lines  passing  through  the  Protected Areas and other wildlife rich areas, Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife has recommended that all linear infrastructure development Agencies, shall submit wild animals passage plan based on the WII Guideline 'Eco-Friendly  Measures  to  Mitigate Impacts  of linear infrastructure  on Wildlife'. These guideline suggest for modification in the designs of the linear infrastructures  by  way  of  providing  eco-friendly  structure  which  will  ensure safe movement of wildlife across these linear infrastructures.
- vii. Periodic awareness campaigns to sensitize guide and advise the general public on  man-animal  conflict,  including  dissemination of  information  through various forms of media.

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