Lok Sabha Question No. 580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Survey on Extinct/Endangered Wildlife Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Diya Kumari, Uday Pratap Singh

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

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.580 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Survey on Extinct/Endangered Wildlife Species

## 580. MS. DIYA KUMARI:

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 thereunder, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether it  is  a  fact  that  there  has  been  a  constant  decline  in  the  number  of  wildlife species in the country during the last five years;
- (c) if so, the details of such extinct species, State-wise especially in Rajasthan; and
- (d) The steps taken by the Government in the conservation, development and rehabilitation  of  these  species  during  the  last  five  years,  State-wise  especially  in Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) 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:
- (b)&(c) As per report of Zoological Survey of India , there is  no report in the decline of wildlife species in the country , including State of Rajasthan during last 5 years.
- (d) Important  steps taken by the Government to protect and conserve wildlife in  the country including State of Rajasthan  are as follows:
- i. A network of Protected Areas (National parks, Sanctuaries, Community Reserves and Conservation Reserves) have   been created in the Country.
- ii. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. 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.
- v. Financial assistance is provided to States under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Project Tiger and Elephant' for activities like creation and maintenance of water holes for wild animals, 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.
- vi. 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 ,through 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.
- vii. 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.

| S No.   | Asiatic Lion   | Asiatic Lion   | Tiger   | Tiger                                                            | Elephant   | Elephant    |
|---------|----------------|----------------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-------------|
|         | Year           | Population     | Year    | Population                                                       | Year       | Population  |
| 1       | 2010           | 411            | 2014    | 2226                                                             | 2007       | 27669-27719 |
| 2       | 2015           | 523            | 2018    | 2967                                                             | 2012       | 29391-30711 |
| 3       | 2020           | 674            | 2022    | 3167 (Minimum population estimate as per Status of Tigers- 2022) | 2017       | 29964       |

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