Lok Sabha Question No. 1051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Loss of Animals and Birds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1051

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## Loss of Animals and Birds

## 1051. SHRI  KRIPANATH  MALLAH:

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

- (a) whether several animals and 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 and birds from the environment ; and
- (d) if so,  the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) Ministry has not received any report indicating that blackbucks, sparrow, honeybee  are  vanishing  from  the  environment.  Such  wild  animals  which  require protection owing to their ecological status including their relative abundance in nature are notified under the relevant schedule of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 so as to provide them the corresponding degree of protection.

The  following  important  steps  have  been  taken  to  further  conserve  wildlife including  precious animals and birds:

- i. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have been notified all  over  the  country  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act, 1972  to  conserve  wild  animals,  birds  and  their  habitats.  In  order  to  further strengthen  conservation  of  wildlife, eco-sensitive  zones  (ESZs)  are  also notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries.
- ii. The Ministry extends financial assistance to State Government/Union Territory Administration    under  various  Centrally  Sponsored  schemes(CSS)  such  as Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH),  Project Tiger and Project Elephant, for providing better protection to wildlife including rare species of animals/birds and improvement of their habitat:-
3. (a) One of the major components of CSS-DWH is Recovery programme for critically  endangered  species  and  its  habitats.  This  component  is  for affecting the recovery of critically endangered species in the country. 21 species have been identified under this component so far.
4. (b) Concerned  at  the  primary  need  to  restore  the  elephant  habitats  and reduce suffering of both elephant as well as the human population, the Government  of  India  launched  'Project  Elephant'  in  1991-92  as  a Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  of  Environment  and Forests. It is  intended to provide financial and technical support to the elephant  range  states  of  India  for  the  protection  of  elephants,  their habitats  and  corridors  and  address  issue  of  human-  animal  conflict.  It also promotes welfare of captive elephants.
5. (c) The Government of India has taken a pioneering initiative for conserving its national animal, the tiger, by launching the 'Project Tiger' in 1973.Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance  to  the  tiger  States  for  tiger  conservation  in  designated  tiger reserves.  The  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  is  a statutory  body  of  the  Ministry,  with  an  overarching  supervisory  / coordination  role,  performing  functions  as  provided  in  the  Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- iii. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has provided the financial assistance for carrying forward the ex-situ Conservation Breeding Programme of various species  at  identified  zoos.  The  CZA  has  identified  73  endangered  wild animal species for planned conservation breeding. The Conservation Breeding Programme has been launched for 23 species in identified zoos so far.
- 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. Local communities in and around protected areas are also involved conservation  measures  for  which  incentive  measures  are  provided  under approved eco-development activities.

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