Wildlife Protection Act 1972

 Wildlife Protection Act 1972

 Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) was enacted by the Government of India in 1972 to safeguard wild animals, birds, and plants, with an aim to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 .

 

 Wildlife Protection Act 1972 - Background

• After India became independent, the advent of automobiles and long-range rifles aggravated the decline of India's wildlife.

• The government with a view to protecting crops from the clutches of wild animals issued guns freely to farmers which resulted in large-scale destruction of wild animals.

• Between 1947 and 1951, there was large-scale destruction of wildlife in India in all the parts of the country as poachers indulged in the indiscriminate shooting of wild animals.

 • As a result, the Cheetah became extinct in India in 1951.

• Also, there were only five national parks in the country before WPA was introduced, hence there was an urgent need for comprehensive legislation aimed at the protection of India’s flora and fauna.

Salient Features of Wildlife Protection Act 1972

 • The Act mandates the prohibition of hunting of wild animals in general while the hunting of wild animals would be permitted in certain cases for the purpose of education and scientific research.

• The Act also prohibits picking, uprooting, etc. of a specified plant species.

• The Act provided for the declaration and protection of protected areas such as Sanctuaries and National Parks.

• The Act prohibits the trade in trophies, animals, and animal articles from certain animals.

• The Act says that if an animal is hunted in a sanctuary or National Park, such animal or any animal article shall be the property of the Government.

 • Powers of State government: State Government can declare an area as a Sanctuary or as a National Park for the purpose of protecting the wildlife and the environment in the region as the region is of ecological, faunal, floral, or zoological importance.

• Powers of Central government: If the State Government l transfers any area under its control to the Central Government, then the centre can declare such areas as Sanctuary or National Park.

 

Wildlife Protection Act Schedules

Check all the 6 schedules under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

 

Schedule	Description	Important Species
Schedule= I	Endangered species are included and are accorded the highest level of protection. Hunting of species under this Schedule is prohibited except under threat to human life.	Caracal, Cheetah, Clouded leopard, Golden langur, Indian lion, Liontailed macaque, Pygmy hog, Rhinoceros, Tiger, Gharial, Great Indian Hornbill, Great Indian Bustard, etc.
Schedule- II	Species in this list are given high protection. Their trade is prohibited. And cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.	Bison, Dolphins, Flying squirrels, Himalayan Brown bear, Indian Elephant, Dhole, Leopard, Nilgiri Thar, etc.
Schedule- III	This list includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules.	Chinkara, Chital, Himalayan Ibex, Hyaena, Nilgai, Sambar, Sloth bear, etc.
Schedule- IV	Species included are not endangered but hunting is prohibited.	Desert fox, Barbets, Otters, few Birds, etc.
Schedule- V	This list includes vermin species that can be hunted without any punishment	Mice, Fruit bats, Jackal, Common crow, Common fox, etc.
Schedule- VI	This schedule provides regulations for the cultivation of specific endemic plants and limits their possession, sale and transportation, which could be carried out only with prior permission.	Pitcher plant, Slipper orchids, Blue vanda, Red vanda, Kuth, etc.

 

Enforcement of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Export-Import Policy:

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the provisions of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Export and Import Policy in India were continued to be enforced through the offices of the Regional Deputy Directors of Wildlife Preservation located at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, along with the help of State Wildlife Department, the State Police Department, the Customs Departments, Border Security Force (BSF) and Coastal Guards.

During 1972, the Regional Deputy Directors detected several cases of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products. Ban was enforced on 29 species of wild plant, plant portions and their derivatives obtained from the wild.

 

Amendments of Wildlife (Protec­tion) Act, 1972:

The various amendments made to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, came into force from 1st April 2003, except for the provision relating to constitution of National Board for Wildlife.

 Important Bodies Established Through Wildlife Protection Act 1972

• Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

Central Zoo Authority was established in 1992 under the Ministry of Environment & Forests o Chairperson: Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change o The Authority recognises or derecognises zoos in India. o It mandates basic standards for animals in zoos and evaluates and assesses the functioning of zoos in India.

 • NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY (NTCA)

1.      NTCA was established in December 2005 under the WPA, 1972.

2.      Chairperson: Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

3.      NTCA has been mandated to strengthen tiger conservation in India by assessing various conservation programmes and providing recommendations

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)

1.      WCCB is a statutory body established in 2006 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. o WCCB has its headquarters in New Delhi.

2.      WCCB is tasked with the collection of intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and advice the Government on issues relating to wildlife crimes

• National Board for Wild Life (NBWL)

1.      NBWL is the apex body for all wildlife-related matters in India.

2.      Chairperson: Prime Minister

3.      The board is tasked with framing policies and advising the Governments on means of promoting wildlife conservation and effectively controlling poaching and illegal trade of wildlife and carrying out an environmental impact assessment of various projects and activities on wildlife NBWL also prepares and publishes a status report at least once in two years on wildlife in the country.