Lok Sabha Question No. 1425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Wildlife and Animal Conservation Initiatives
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bharatsinhji Shankarji Dabhi, Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Ananta Nayak, Shri Kesineni Sivanath, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Smt. Sanjna Jatav, Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Dr. Bhola Singh, Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1425

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Wildlife and Animal Conservation Initiatives

1425. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI KESINENI SIVANATH:

DR. RAJESH MISHRA:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SMT. SANJNA JATAV:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:

SHRI ANANTA NAYAK:

SHRI BHARATSINHJI SHANKARJI DABHI:

DR. BHOLA SINGH:

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

- (a) the details of the key animal and wildlife conservation initiatives implemented during in the last three years to protect flagship and endangered species, including measures under Project Tiger, Project Elephant, conservation of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles and allied species-specific programmes in the States including Odisha and Rajasthan particularly in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency ;
- (b) the steps taken to strengthen habitat management, wildlife corridors, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation across identified priority landscapes including the said States;
- (c) the role plays by technology, scientific monitoring use of GIS/camera traps and initiatives;
- (d) whether the Government has assessed recent trends in wildlife populations and conservation effectiveness  across  the  States  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  species  and  landscape-wise including Odisha, Rajasthan and Bulandshahr;
- (e) the date on which the Son Gharial Sanctuary was setup in Sidhi district along with the details with regard to number of gharials at the time of setting up of said sanctuary and at present; and
- (f) whether there is any proposal to wind up the gharial project by relocating the remaining gharials elsewhere in case the number of gharials have decreased?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (d)    The  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  for  conservation,  protection  and management of wildlife. The Act regulates hunting of wild animals, provides for declaration of Sanctuaries, National Parks, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves and also for penalties for violation of the provisions of the Act.

The Ministry provides the financial assistance to States and Union Territories including the State  of  Odisha,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes,  of 'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  and  'Project  Tiger  and  Elephant'  which  aims  at conservation  and  protection  of  wildlife  and  improvement  of  its  habitats.  The  financial assistance is provided as per the Annual Plan of Operations received from the respective States and Union Territories.

These schemes support activities like  removal of invasive species, creation of water holes, grassland  management,  maintenance  of  fire  lines,  soil  &  moisture  conservation  works, establishment and maintenance of anti-poaching camps, patrolling squads, improved wireless communication,  wildlife  veterinary  care,  use  of  technology  like  camera  traps,  drones,  esurveillance etc. for  monitoring  of wild  animals,  detecting illegal intrusions, early  warning system  in  relaying  information  to  quick  reaction  teams  in  the  field  for  managing  human wildlife conflict, eco-development activities involving communities.

Conservation of flagship species such as Tiger, Elephant , Dolphin etc are implemented in project mode  like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Lion, Project Snow Leopard, Project Dolphin.  Under  a  species  specific  component  'Recovery  programme  for  saving  critically endangered  species  and  habitats',  States  and  Union  Territories  are  assisted  for  focused conservation  action  on  identified  24 critically  endangered  species.  Conservation  of Marine Turtles are also supported under this component.

The population assessment of wild animals is carried out by the respective States and Union Territories from time to time. The population assessment of the identified flagship species are carried out at National level. The first ever scientific assessment of the snow leopards and river dolphin  have  indicated  a  population  of  718  snow  leopards  and  6327  river  dolphins  in  the country. The tiger population has shown increase as per the All India Tiger Estimation done in 2022, with an estimated number of 3682 (range 3167-3925) as compared to the 2018 estimation of 2967 (range 2603-3346). Further, as per 'Status of Leopards in India- 2022' report, leopard population  in  country  is  estimated  at  13,874  (Range:  12,616  -  15,132)  individuals,  in comparison to 12852 (12,172-13,535) individuals as per 2018 report.

Further, with a view to protecting, propagating and developing wildlife a network of Protected Areas have been created in the country. The number of Protected Areas have increased from 981 in 2020 to 1134 in 2025. Similarly, the Tiger Reserves have increased from 50 to 58 and Elephant  Reserves  have  increased  from  30  to  33  during  the  same  period.  In  addition,  for maintaining the ecological connectivity, 32 tiger corridors and 150 Elephant corridors have been identified. The Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) exercise for the National Parks, Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Elephant Reserves, have also been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of management.

(e) and (f) As per the information available in the Ministry, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh  had  notified  Son  Gharial  Sanctuary  vide  notification  dated  23 rd   September  1981. During the 7 th  meeting of the National Board for Wild Life held on 03.03.2025, a new initiative for conservation of Gharials  and tackle threats to their survival  was  decided  upon. Subsequently,  Gharial  has  also  been  included  under  the  species  recovery  programme component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitats.

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