Lok Sabha Question No. 2908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Poaching of Elephants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Rajesh Verma, Talari Rangaiah, Tirath Singh Rawat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2908

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## Poaching of Elephants

2908.   SHRI RAJESH VERMA: DR. TALARI RANGAIAH: SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  concrete  measures  to  stop  the  rampant  illegal poaching of elephants in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of objectives of Project Elephant in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  solve  the  problem  of  human-elephant conflict, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)to(c)  The  State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  are  the  primary  responders  for prevention  of  Human  Elephant  Conflict  including  the  crimes  related  to  elephant poaching. The Project Elephant scheme launched by Government of India with major objectives to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors, to address issues of manelephant  conflict  and  welfare  of  captive  elephants  in  the  country  including  Andhra Pradesh,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Odisha.    The  Ministry  has  taken  following  measures  to prevent human elephant conflict including poaching of elephants in the country:
- (i) The Ministry provides financial and technical assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant'  for  protection  and conservation of the species and their habitats in the country including creation of anti-poaching Squad/camps, patrolling duties, reward to informers on information on poachers etc.
- (ii) An advisory  on  Human-Wildlife Conflict  including  dealing  the  wildlife  crime has been issued by the Ministry on 6 th February, 2021.
- (iii) To reduce human-elephant conflict and to avoid retaliatory killing of elephants, compensation is being provided to local communities for loss of their property

and life caused by wild elephants. The Ministry has notified enhancement of exgratia rates related to wildlife depredation vide letter No. 14-2/2011 WL-I (part) dated 9 th February, 2018.

- (iv) Various other Centrally Sponsored schemes being implemented by this Ministry contribute to the improvement in the natural habitat of elephants by augmenting water  sources,  planting  of  fodder  trees,  regeneration  of  bamboo  etc.    The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 and the Rules made there under also provide for use of the Fund for development of wildlife habitats, including for elephants, establishment of animal rescue centres, etc. which also contribute to reduction in HEC.
- (v) A guideline for Management of Human Elephant Conflict has been issued by the Ministry  on  6.10.2017  and  elephant  range  states  have  been  requested  for implementation of the same.
- (vi) An  advisory  on  dealing  with  human-wildlife  conflict  has  been  issued  by  the Ministry in February 2021. The advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental  action,  identification of conflict hot spots,  adherence  to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review  the quantum of exgratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments, and provision of  adequate  funds  for  suitable  portion  of  ex-gratia  relief  to  be  paid  within  24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
- (vii) Wildlife  Institute  of  India  in  consultation  with  the  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest &  Climate Change, National  Highway Authority, National Tiger Conservation  Authority  and  World  Bank  Group  has  published  a  document namely ' Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure' to assist  project  agencies  in  designing  linear  infrastructure,  including  electric transmission lines, in a manner that reduces human-animal conflicts.
- (viii) The  Ministry  has  released  a  book  titled  'Best  Practices  of  Human  Elephant Conflict Management in India' for the benefit of States and other stakeholders.
- (ix) A  field  manual  for  frontline  staff  to  manage  Human  Elephant  Conflict  was released during the 16 th meeting of the Steering Committee on 29 th April, 2022.
- (x) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.
- (xi) Regional  coordination  meeting  for  the  Eastern  Region  to  address  HumanElephant Conflict was conducted on 19 th January, 2023 at Kolkata.
- (xii) Capacity  building  of  frontline  staff  for  investigation,  forensics  and  successful prosecution of wildlife cases are being organised at regular interval.
- (xiii) In  addition,  the  Ministry  in  coordination  with  Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau (WCCB)  has  taken  following  measures  to  prevent  wildlife  crime  including poaching of elephants:
-  Conducting  joint  operations  with  State  enforcement  agencies  to  apprehend criminals involved in smuggling.
-  Conducting capacity building for Forest & Police Officials on investigation of Wildlife cases under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
-  Conducting  sensitisation  programme  for  the  officials  of  Border  Guarding Forces,  Customs,  Central  Industrial  Security  Force  (CISF),  Judicial  officers, RPF, GRP and other stakeholders.
-  Issuing  alerts  and  advisories  on  poaching  and  illegal  trade  of  wildlife  to  the concerned state and Central agencies for preventive actions.
-  The WCCB has developed and online Wildlife Crime Database Management System  and  shared  user  credentials  with  970  Divisional  Forest  Offices,  50 Field Directors of Tiger Reserves and 37 Chief Wildlife Wardens in the Forest Department  and  34  Director  General  of  Police  to  upload  data  pertaining  to wildlife crime detected on day to day basis.
-  The  WCCB  has  also  conducted  special  pan  India  enforcement  operation  to coordinate  action  among  State/Central  enforcement  agencies.    Ivory  seizures have been effected in the 'Operation WILDNET-I, II, III and IV'.
-  Moreover, WCCB  participated in global operations such as operation Thunderbird envisaged by INTERPOL's Wildlife Working Group, Operation THUNDERSTORM,  Operation  THUNDERBALL  and  Operation  Thunder 2021, which resulted in the arrest of may criminal and seizers.

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