Lok Sabha Question No. 2819 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Loss of Animals and Birds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2819

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Loss of Animals and Birds

## 2819.  SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

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

- (a) whether several animals/birds including blackbucks, sparrow, honey-bee are vanishing from the environment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to prevent such irreparable loss of precious animals/birds from the environment; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b) It is a fact that few species of animals and birds including sparrow, honey-bee are decreasing. However, the species are not vanishing from the environment. As per the Red List version 2017-3 published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 94 species of mammals, 89 species of birds, 54 species of reptiles, 75 species of amphibians, 228 species of fish and 135 species of invertebrates in India are listed as 'Critically Endangered' (Extremely high risk of extinction), 'Endangered' (Very high risk of extinction) and 'Vulnerable' (High risk of extinction).
- (c)and (d) The Ministry has taken the following important steps to protect the endangered wildlife species and their habitats:
- 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. Increase  in  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. 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 and improvement of habitat.
- iv. The Ministry has taken up the initiative for conservation breeding of the  critically  endangered  species,  like  Snow  Leopard,  Asiatic  Lion, Gangetic  Dolphins,  Manipur  Brow  Antler  Deer,  Red  Panda,  Great Indian Bustard, Vultures, etc. under the Endangered Species Recovery Programme Scheme.
- 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 trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.

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