Lok Sabha Question No. 1522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Bear Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1522

TO BE ANSWERED ON  26.07.2016

## Bear Conservation

## 1522.  SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is having any proposal to bear the medical expenses of injured human beings attacked by the bears in the human habitation area and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is any proposal for National Bear Conservation and welfare action plan like Project Tiger and Project Elephant;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the financial assistance provided to safeguard the bear population which is dwindling day by day;  and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to check retaliatory killings and illegal trade in various kinds of bears in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) There is no specific proposal to bear the medical expanses of injured human beings attacked by the bears in the human habitation area. However, the state governments  provide ex-gratia relief  to  victims  of  depredations/attacks  by wild  animals  including  bear  for  loss  of  human  lives/injury  loss  of  property. Central  assistance  to  the  states  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes includes assistance for payment of ex-gratia relief for payment to the victims of predation/depredation by wild animals as below:
- (b) There is no proposal for National Bear Conservation and welfare action plan like Project Tiger and Project Elephant under consideration of the Ministry.
- (c) Does not arise in view of (b) above.
- (d) The  Government  has  taken  following  steps    to  check  retaliatory  killing  and illegal trade of  various kinds of bears in the country:
1. State  Governments  provide ex-gratia relief  to  victims  in  respect  of damage to crops and loss of human lives from their own funds as well from the assistance provided by Central Government.
2. In forest and wildlife management, involvement of people living near the  forests  is  ensured  by  the  strategies  of  organizing  Joint  Forest Management Committees and village Eco-development Committees.
3. The  Central  Government  provides  assistance  to  the  States/Union Territories under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes like 'Integrated Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats',  'Project  Elephant'  and  'Project Tiger' for providing better protection to wildlife and improvement of its habitat.
4. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and covering important wildlife habitats have been created all over  the  country  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
5. The  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972  has  been  enacted  to  provide protection  to wildlife  including  bears. The  Act  prohibits  killing, poisoning, capturing, coursing, snaring, trapping, injuring or destroying or taking any part of the body parts of wild animals and also regulates trade or commerce in wildlife. The Himalayan Brown Bear, Sloth Bear, Himalayan black bear as well as Malayan sun bear have been  listed  under  Schedule  I  of  the  Act  granting  them  the  highest protection.
6. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to strengthen the enforcement of law for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.

| Sl. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                              |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)       | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs. 2,00,000/-                                          |
| (b)       | Grievous injury                           | 30% of (a)                                              |
| (c)       | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment                                       |
| (d)       | Loss of property                          | Value of loss/damage as assessed by authorized officer. |

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