Lok Sabha Question No. 4363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Endangered Wildlife Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4363

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## Endangered Wildlife Species

## 4363. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey/review  of  extinct/endangered wildlife species in the country and whether any comparative data has been prepared there under;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the number of wildlife species in Madhya Pradesh reported a constant decrease during the last five years, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  details  of  extinct  wildlife  species  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Madhya  Pradesh  along with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  their  conservation,  development  and resettlement?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (d) Management  of  wildlife  and  its habitats, including population assessment, is primarily the responsibility of the  respective States/Union  Territories.  As  per available information, the population of Asiatic lion, tiger and elephants during the last three censuses is as follows:

| S.No   | Asiatic Lion   | Asiatic Lion   | Tiger   | Tiger      | Elephant   | Elephant    |
|--------|----------------|----------------|---------|------------|------------|-------------|
|        | Year           | Population     | Year    | Population | Year       | Population  |
| 1      | 2010           | 411            | 2010    | 1706       | 2007       | 27669-27719 |
| 2      | 2015           | 523            | 2014    | 2226       | 2012       | 29391-30711 |
| 3      | 2020           | 674            | 2018    | 2967       | 2017       | 29964       |

Although no species from India has been declared as extinct in the recent past, some animal  species  like  cheetah,  Pink  Headed  Duck  and  Himalayan  quail  have  been reported extinct in India.

As informed by the State of Madhya Pradesh, the number of Wildlife is on increasing trend in the State.

A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  and  conserve forests and wildlife. Some of the important steps are as follows:

- i. Financial assistance is provided to States under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes  of  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats',  'Project  Tiger'  and 'Project  Elephant'  for  activities  like  creation  and  maintenance  of  water holes for wild animals in Protected Areas, soil and moisture conservation measures,  establishment  of  anti-poaching  camps,  strengthening  wildlife veterinary  care,  eradication  of  weeds,  creation  and  maintenance  of  fire lines, awareness generation.
- ii. Financial assistance is provided to States for the recovery programme of critically endangered species for saving critically endangered species and habitats under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'. A total of 22 critically endangered species have been identified under this programme.
- iii. Rare and endangered species of animals found in India have been listed in Schedule-I  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972,  thereby  providing them highest degree of protection.
- 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
- v. Wild  Life  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.
- vi. The Ministry has formulated the 3 rd 'National Wildlife Action Plan' for a period  of  2017  to  2031  to  save  wild  animals  in  the  country.  The  Plan focuses on landscape approach in conservation of all wildlife irrespective of  where  they  occur.  It  also  gives  special  emphasis  to  recovery  of threatened  species  of  wildlife  while  conserving  their  habitats  which includes terrestrial, inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.
- vii. In  order  to  further  strengthen  conservation  of  wildlife,  Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified  around  National  Parks  and  Sanctuaries  under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

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