Acknowledgement

I would like to express my thanks to the people who have help me most through my project. I
am grateful to our respected teacher (prof. Debanjan Mazumdar) and other faculties for
nonstop support for the project.

A special thanks of mine goes to my colleague who helped me out in completing the project,
where they all exchange their own interesting ideas, thoughts and made this possible to
complete my project with all accurate information. I wish to thank my parents for their
personal support or attention who inspired me to go my own way.

At last but not the least I want to thank my friends who treasured me for my hard work and
encouraged me and finally to God who made all the possible foe me till the end.

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 Table of contents

Chapter 1 Page No.

Introduction 3

Chapter 2
Wildlife of India 4

Compositions of Wild Life 5

Reasons Why We Need to Save Wildlife 6

Chapter 3
Wildlife Conservation Initiatives by Indian Government 8

Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Park, Biosphere reserves In India 8

Chapter 4
Important Environment and Biodiversity Acts Passed by Government 11

Steps Taken By Indian Government to Protect Biodiversity 12

Important Wildlife Protection Projects by Indian Government 13

Chapter 5
Legislation in India for the Protection of Environment 14

Animal Protection in the Constitution of India 17

Some Important Case Law Regarding Environmental Provision 18

Chapter 6
Ways to Save Wildlife 19

Living in Harmony With Wildlife 20

Chapter 7
Conclusion 22

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 CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Wildlife traditionally refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all
organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife can
be found in all ecosystems. Deserts, forests, rainforests, plains, grasslands, and other areas,
including the most developed urban areas, all have distinct forms of wildlife. While the term
in popular culture usually refers to animals that are untouched by human factors, most
scientists agree that much wildlife is affected by human activities.

Humans have historically tended to separate civilization from wildlife in a number of ways,
including the legal, social, and moral senses. Some animals, however, have adapted to
suburban environments. This includes such animals as domesticated cats, dogs, mice, and
gerbils. Some religions declare certain animals to be sacred, and in modern times, concern for
the natural environment has provoked activists to protest against the exploitation of wildlife
for human benefit or entertainment.

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 CHAPTER 2

Wildlife of India
India is home to a variety of animals. National animal of INDIA is tiger. The Bengal tiger is a
Panthera Tigris Tigris population native to the Indian subcontinent. ... Males have an average
total length of 270 to 310 cm (110 to 120 in). Apart from a handful of domesticated animals,
such as cows, water buffaloes, goats, chickens, and both Bactrian and Dromedary camels,
India has a wide variety of animals native to the country. It is home to Bengal and
Indochinese tiger, Asiatic lions, Indian and Indochinese leopards, snow leopards, clouded
leopards, various species of Deer, including Chital, Hangul, Barasingha; the Indian Elephant,
the Great Indian Rhinoceros, and many others. The region's diverse wildlife is preserved in
more than 120 national parks, 18 Bio-reserves and more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries across
the country. India has some of the most biodiverse regions of the world and contains four of
the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots – the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, Indo-
Burma and Sunda Land. Wildlife management is essential to preserve the rare and
endangered endemic species. India is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries. According
to one study, India along with the other 16 megadiverse countries is home to about 60-70% of
the world's biodiversity. India, lying within the Indomalaya ecozone, is home to about 7.6%
of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian (bird), 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant
species.

Many Indian species are descendants of taxa originating in Gondwana, of which India
originally was a part. Peninsular India's subsequent movement towards, and collision with,
the Laurasian landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, volcanism and climatic
change 20 million years ago caused the extinction of many endemic Indian forms. Soon
thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two zoogeographical passes on either
side of the emerging Himalaya. As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals
and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians
Notable endemics are the Nilgiri leaf monkey and the brown and carmine Beddome's toad of
the Western Ghats. India contains 172, or 2.9%, of IUCN-designated threatened species.
These include the Asian elephant, the Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, mugger
crocodile, and Indian white-rumped vulture, which suffered a near-extinction from ingesting
the carrion of diclofenac-treated cattle.

In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the
system of national parks and protected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially
expanded. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard
crucial habitat; further federal protections were promulgated in the 1980s. Along with over
515 wildlife sanctuaries, India now hosts 18 biosphere reserves, 10 of which are part of the
World Network of Biosphere Reserves; 26 wetlands are registered under the Ramsar
Convention.

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Compositions of Wild Life
Fauna
India is home to several well-known large mammals, including the Asian elephants, Bengal
and Indochinese Tigers, Asiatic lions, Snow leopards, Clouded leopards, Indian leopards,
Indian sloth bear and Indian rhinoceros. Some other well-known large Indian mammals are:
ungulates such as the rare wild Asian water buffalo, common domestic Asian water buffalo,
Gail, gaur, and several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family, such
as the Indian wolf, Bengal fox and golden jackal, and the dhole or wild dogs are also widely
distributed. However, the dhole, also known as the whistling hunter, is the most endangered
top Indian carnivore, and the Himalayan wolf is now a critically endangered species endemic
to India. It is also home to the striped hyena, macaques, langur and mongoose species.

Flora
There are about 18500 taxa of flowering plants from India. The Indian Forest Act, 1927
helped to improve protection and security of the natural habitat. Many ecoregions, such as the
shola forests, also exhibit extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant
species are endemic.

India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western
Ghats, and Northeast India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes
lie the sal-dominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; teak-dominated dry deciduous
forest of central and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central
Deccan and western Gangetic plain. Important Indian trees include the medicinal neem,
widely used in rural Indian herbal remedies.

Fungus
The diversity of fungi and their natural beauty occupy a prime place in the biological world
and India has been a cradle for such organisms. Only a fraction of the total fungal wealth of
India has been subjected to scientific scrutiny and mycologists have to unravel this
unexplored and hidden wealth. One-third of fungal diversity of the globe exists in India. The
country has an array of 10 diverse biomes including Trans-Himalayan zone, Himalaya,
Desert, Semi-Arid zone, Western Ghats, Deccan Peninsula, Gangetic Plain, North-Eastern
India, Coasts and Islands where varied dominating regimes manifest. This enables the
survival of manifold fungal flora in these regions which include hot spot areas like the
Himalayan ranges, Western Ghats, hill stations, mangroves, sea coasts, fresh water bodies
etc. Many fungi have been recorded from these regions and from the country in general
comprising thermophiles, psychrophiles, mesophiles, aquatic forms, marine forms, plant and
animal pathogens, edible fungi and beneficial fungi and so on. The number of fungi recorded
in India exceeds 27,000 species, the largest biotic community after insects. The true fungi
belong to the Kingdom Fungi which has four phyla, 103 orders, 484 families and 4979
genera. About 205 new genera have been described from India, of which 32% were
discovered by C. V. Subramanian of the University of Madras. These features indicate a ten-
fold increase in the last 80 years.

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Reasons Why We Need to Save Wildlife
Wildlife Conservation is a burning topic that is not going to slow down any sooner. With the
increase in poaching, hunting of animals and even agriculture, wildlife all around the globe is
under a high red-alert.

Wildlife, an unrivalled treasure of nature that provides nothing but joy to its spectator stands
in a position of jeopardy today. In this case, the odds are in favour of it falling apart along
with us.

1. WILDLIFE MAINTAINS ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

Okay! So, this one is an oldie that you can find easily on any of your textbooks from any
grade. Just have a look into it and realize that we have been warned from the beginning of
time that even the smallest organism play a great role in our ecosystem.

Every species needs to exist in a certain proportion for the ecosystem to function smoothly.
Increase or decrease in any of these numbers can cause catastrophic results for our
environment and trust us when we say that the damages can be huge. The effect of this
imbalance can cause the life of many species or even a food chain. You now know how
messed up it already is.

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE IN RESEARCH AND MEDICINE IS

EXEMPLARY

As much as we all want to believe that wildlife is an eye-candy we cannot just ignore its
importance in the field of research and medicine too. Go! Look for the sources of any
medicine around you, we assure you that you will find an element of wildlife in one form or
the other mentioned there. Don’t trust us? Then, just try. See?

History has it and that too in golden ink that the cures of lethal health problems including
leprosy, cancers, Alzheimer’s and even Parkinson’s have found their homes in the wild
woods. Not only this, natural processes like aging too have a solution and it's with the wild
again. Just imagine the immense power it holds.

3. WILDLIFE HAS MANY PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS

“Nature heals and that too in full power.” Although it is difficult to measure its advantage on
mental health its positive effects cannot just be dismissed. It's not just us who feel this way,
researches state that a traveler experiences a tremendous sense of wonder, contentment, and
pleasure from wildlife encounters. Isn’t that true? We all feel the calmest amidst the wild,
isn’t it?

4. WILDLIFE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR

This is a lesser known fact about wildlife in India and if we are opening the doors of a whole
new world for you, so be it. Yes! Wildlife is an environmental indicator and
environmentalists from ages have detected the adversity of situations through the presence or
absence of certain plants and animals in the ecosystem. As a matter of fact, up until now,
wildlife has given great help in detecting excess pollution.

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So, by conserving wildlife you are not only saving the environment but also saving yourself
an essential tool to measure the damage. Sounds promising.

5. WILDLIFE HELP IN AGRICULTURE TOO

Wildlife is a broader category that we sometimes mistake for only magnanimous creatures. It
is, in fact, the smaller species that keep many a thing going in food chains and webs. We may
not appreciate their efforts but ignoring them cannot be a case.

For humans like us, these smaller species are of equal importance too.That’s because we live
on agricultural products that a majority of time exist because of the pollination process
carried by these little wonders.

6. WILDLIFE ATTRACTS TOURISM IN SPARSELY DEVELOPED COUNTRY AS

WELL

Wildlife is an apple of every eye. We all want to be surrounded by it all the time because
that’s how we all are wired naturally. As a result of which, wildlife tourism has turned into
popular culture in all the developed countries around the world. People are traveling overseas
to become a part of the wilderness and that is indeed creating a lot of profit for the hosting
countries.

With this win-win situation, countries or areas with no proper development are coming under
the global radar. And, you all know how it works further, don’t you?

7. THERE IS NO MATCH OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN THE ECONOMICS OF

ECO-SERVICES

If you are planning your life without the wildlife, then, find an alternate source for all your
needs. We know that will be hard because we humans don’t know the full functioning of the
ecosystem, so, replicating it will be certainly out of our reach. That’s why we need to
conserve wildlife to keep the resource stream coming.

8. WILDLIFE KEEPS THE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN

Like we have told you before wildlife is a broad domain where even microbes and scavengers
play a heroic role. Yes! We say heroic because they save lives from the toxics of the dead.
They clean the environment and return back the system the important nutrients they require.

If you thought that it was just the process of the dead that they took in hand, then, let us tell
you that they govern even the basic function of excretion in your life. Did your world just
change? We bet it did.

9. AND LASTLY, OUR EXISTENCE IS QUESTIONED IF IT’S NOT FOR THE

WILDLIFE

We cannot last even a single day if it is not for wildlife. You know it, we know it, then why
put yourself through it. Join hands and save the environment because for even the tiniest of
the process you need their existence and help.

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 CHAPTER 3

Wildlife Conservation Initiatives by Indian Government

In 1894, Rudyard Kipling’s famous collection of stories got published and the rest is history.
Kipling’s incisive eyes and 6 years of hard work not only created a composition that excited
kids but indirectly boasts the rich wildlife in India. Even though it was just a fable it did show
the diversity of animals in the country. To really talk about diversity, India is one of the 17
mega diversities in the world and is home to 7.6% of all mammal, 12.6% of bird, 6.2% of
reptile, and 6.0% of flowering plant species. The country also has some of the most
biodiverse regions on the planet and it comprises of four of 35 biodiversity hotspots of the
world like the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma and Nicobar Islands in
Sundaland. So far, the country’s wildlife is preserved in 120+ national parks, 515 wildlife
sanctuaries, 26 wetlands, and 18 Bio-Reserves, out of which 10 are part of the World
Network of Biosphere Reserves. Evidently, this large biodiverse land needs protection, and
inarguably conservation is a mandatory measure.

Keeping in view the recent human encroachment, the Indian Government did take effective
initiatives to conserve wildlife in the country, and amongst it, most commendable initiatives
is the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits trade of rare and endangered species.
However, this is not the only laudatory measure taken by the Government of India (GOI),
there is so much more that needs to be told about the schemes and projects that have helped
the country maintain its rich wildlife.

Wildlife Sanctuaries In India

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

The Periyar Wildlife reserve lies cozily cusped within the famous Cardamom Hills of the
South. The Periyar River meanders around its contours, providing a permanent source of
water for the local wildlife. Periyar is a highly protected tiger and elephant reserve. During
the last count, there were about 53 tigers within the park area. Tourists hire barges to view
herds of wild elephants bathing in the Periyar Lake. Other animals found here include Gaur,
Bison, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Mongoose, Foxes, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri
Langur and Leopards

Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand

Covering an area of 953 thickly forested square kilometers with stunning views of the
surrounding snow clad peaks, the Govind Wildlife sanctuary draws tons of visitors each year.
It is a well-known picnic and trekking destination. You might get lucky to get a glimpse of
the Snow Leopard here. This park is also home to a number of other exotic species such as
Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Monal, Trogopan and
many more. Highly recommended for lovers of the cold and to those who love trekking.

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National Park In India
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Nestled among the Vindhyas, Bandhavgarh was used by the Maharajas of yester-years as a
hunting park. Today, it is a highly protected area and boasts of the highest density of tigers in
the country. The park is also a large breeding ground for Panthers, and various species of deer
including Nilgai and Spotted Deer. A number of luxury Safaris are organised in this park
where tourists are taken around through the foggy jungle in open jeeps at the crack of dawn.

Hemis National Park, Jammu & Kashmir

Located in the Eastern Ladakh region of Kashmir, Hemis National Park offers many
recreational opportunities including camping, trekking and sightseeing. Hemis has the
distinction of being the only national park north of the Himalayas and is home to a healthy
population of about 200 majestic Snow Leopards. Other animals that call Hemis home are the
Tibetan Wolf, the endangered Eurasian Brown Bear, the Red Fox, the Argali, the Bharal and
the Shapu. You may even spot a few Asiatic Ibex if you are lucky. No motorable roads run
through the park and you have to cover it mostly on foot. A number of trekking routes open
up from mid-June to mid-October.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

At Kaziranga, you will feel dwarfed by the vast expanses of ultra-tall elephant grass, which is
why opting for an elephant safari through the park is a great idea. A World Heritage Site, the
park hosts two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses. Other exotic species
here are the Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo and the Eastern Swamp Deer. Infact, Kaziranga has
57%% of the world population of the Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo which can be found lolling
around in the many swamps here. Kaziranga is also home to a large number of birds,
predators and scavengers.

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Jeep and open mini-bus safaris are organised and the rides through the undulating terrain of
Ranthambore National Park are exhilarating. People usually take more than one ride because
it's not very easy to spot a tiger in one go here. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, you can
hope to spot animals like Leopards, Wild Boars, Peacocks, Chitals, Sambhars, Hyenas, and
Sloth Bears. They say that one of the country's largest old Banyan trees is growing
somewhere in this park. Looks like you're going to have to verify that one for yourself!

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, is a haven for wildlife
lovers in India and covers an impressive area of about 1318 sq. kms. The most talked about
of Corbett's denizens are the Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant. Less talked about but
more easily seen are the Wild elephant, Langur Monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Peacock, and
several types of deer including Chital, Sambars, Hog Deer and Barking Deer. There are also
Crocodiles, Gharials, Monitor Lizards, Wild Boars and Jackals. Panthers also prowl this land
but aren't as easy to lay eyes on. Corbett is also one of the richest bird regions of India with
over 600 different species of birds nesting here.

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Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha were the inspiration
behind Rudyard Kipling's beautiful novel The Jungle Book. Open grassy meadows have
sprung up in place of villages that were evacuated to make way for the animals that now
inhabit the sanctuary. There are many different species of grass recorded at Kanha some of
which are important for the survival of the majestic Barasingha, with its giant antlers. The
park has a significant population of Bengal Tigers, Panthers, Sloths, Hyenas, Peacocks,
Mongoose, Jungle Fowls and Langurs.

Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat

Sprawled across a massive 1412 sq. kms, Gir is the only place in the world where you can
find the Asian Lion in its natural habitat. You can also hope to spot Sloth Bears, Striped
Hyenas, Golden Jackals, Four Horned Antelopes, Leopards, Nilgai, Crocodiles and even the
very rare Blackbuck. Bird lovers can see various breeds of Owls, Eagles, Quails and
Woodpeckers. Gir is a highly protected reserve, as efforts are ongoing to save the Asiatic
Lion, only 411 of which remain. Tourists are only allowed on designated routes and their
movements are monitored.

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal

The largest tidal mangrove forest in the world, the Sundarbans covers 10,000 sq kms in the
delta of the Bay of Bengal between India and Bangladesh. An interconnected network of
waterways makes almost every corner of the forest accessible by boat. With its overhanging
vegetation and green pallid waters, one gets the feeling of floating down an Amazonian river.
The Sundarbans is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger (about 500 of them). It is also
well known for its Crocodile and Snake population. If you are lucky, you may even see the
Gangetic River Dolphin swimming down the river with you. Definitely one of the top
wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Sundarbans is not just about spotting animals, it's about
experiencing nature at its finest!

Biosphere reserves In India

The Indian government has established eighteen biosphere reserves of India which protect
larger areas of natural habitat and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves,
along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the
flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these
regions, and their ways of life. The bio-reserves are:

Achanakmar-Amarkantak , Agasthyamalai , Dibru Saikhowa , Dihang Dibang , Great

Nicobar , Gulf of Mannar , Kachchh , Khangchendzonga , Manas , Nanda Devi , The Nilgiris
, Nokrek , Pachmarhi , Simlipal, Sundarbans , Cold Desert , Seshachalam hills , Panna

Eleven of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere
Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) list. They are-

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve , Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve , Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve , Nokrek National Park , Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve , Simlipal National Park ,
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve , Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve , Nicobar
Islands , Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve , Khangchendzonga.

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 CHAPTER 4

Important Environment and Biodiversity Acts Passed by Indian

Government
Important Environment and Biodiversity Acts Passed by Indian Government are the
following:

1. Fisheries Act, 1897

2. Indian Forests Act, 1927

3. Mining And Mineral Development Regulation Act, 1957

4.Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, 1960

5. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

6. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

7. Forest Conservation Act, 1980

8. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

9. Environment Protection Act, 1986

10.Biological Diversity Act, 2002

11. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights)
Act, 2006

Not only this, there are a few International schemes and projects that India has signed drafted
with its neighbours, Nepal and Bangladesh related to illegal wildlife species trade and
conservation of tigers and leopards. Apart from this, there are plenty of other legal,
administrative and financial steps that Government of India has taken for effective wildlife
conservation in the country. And apparently the success of its some projects and schemes
related to Indian Rhinos, tigers and poaching have earned it immense confidence to continue
working towards a prosperous and intact wildlife.

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Steps Taken By Indian Government to Protect Biodiversity
Along with above specified conservation projects of the wild animals, GOI has also initiated
few schemes that are worked upon to protect the biodiversity and minimize the mortality of
critically endangered, endangered and threatened animals. Here are few important steps that
Government of India has taken for the wildlife protection:

1. In the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, GOI created Protected Areas like National
Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves for the wildlife and
imposed punishments on those indulged in illegal act of hunting.

2. Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 have been drafted to protect
of wetlands in India. The Central Government has also initiated the scheme, National Plan for
Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System that lends assistance to the states for the sound
management of all wetlands.

3. In order to curb the illegal trade of wildlife and that of endangered species, Wildlife
Crime Control Bureau has been established.

4. Special organizations like Wildlife Institute of India, Bombay Natural History

society and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History are formed to conduct
research on conservation of wildlife.

5. To check the dwindling population of Gyps vulture in India, Government of India

has banned the veterinary use of diclofenac drug.

6. For restocking of the endangered species, the Central Government first initiated
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat Scheme and later modified it by including a new
component, Recovery of Endangered Species which included animals like Hangul/stag deer
in Jammu & Kashmir, Vultures in Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat, Snow Leopard in Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, Swiftlet in Andaman &
Nicobar Islands, Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Nadu, Sangai Deer in Manipur. Financial and technical
assistance is also extended to the state government to provide better means of protection and
conservation for the specified species.

7. The State Governments have been asked to strengthen the field formations and
increase patrolling in and around the Protected Areas.

8. GOI intensified anti-poaching activities and initiated special patrolling strategy for
monsoon season. Also, deployment of anti-poaching squad.

9. In order to strengthen tiger conservation, National Tiger Conservation Authority is

constituted by Government of India.

10. A Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) has also been constituted and is
deployed in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Odisha.

11. E-Surveillance has been started in Kaziranga National Park in Assam and borders of
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

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Important Wildlife Protection Projects by Indian Government
Project Tiger

One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures 'Project Tiger' which was initiated
way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also of the entire
ecosystem. This project is sponsored by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
About 47 tiger reserves situated in more than 17 regions including Corbett National Park and
Ranthambore National Park are part of this project which conducts assessments of number of
tigers, their habitat, hunting habits under the supervision of the Tiger Task Force. Project
Tiger has seen significant success in recovery of the habitat and increase in the population of
the tigers in the reserve areas, from a scanty 268 in 9 reserves in 1972 to above 1000 in 28
reserves in 2006 to 2000+ tigers in 2016.

Project Elephant

Initiated in 1992 by the Government of India Project Elephant aims at conserving elephants
and their habitat and of migratory routes by developing scientific and planned management
measures. Under the project welfare of the domestic elephants is also considered, issues like
mitigation of human-elephant conflict are also taken care of. The project’s endeavour is to
strengthen the measures for protection of elephants against poachers and unnatural death.

Crocodile Conservation Project

This project is yet another successful venture by Government of India to conserve the Indian
Crocodiles, whose species were on the verge of extinction once. The project also contributes
towards the conservation in a plethora of related fields. The main objectives of the crocodile
project is to protect the remaining population of crocodiles and their natural habitat by
establishing sanctuaries; to promote captive breeding; to improve management; and to
involve the local people in the project intimately. It is worth noticing that with the initiation
of Crocodile Conservation Project, 4000 gharial/aligator, 1800 mugger/crocodile and 1500
saltwater crocodiles could be restocked.

UNDP Sea Turtle Project

With an objective to conserve the Olive Ridley Turtles, the UNDP Sea Turtle Project was
initiated by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun as the Implementing Agency in November
1999. The project is for 10 coastal state in India especially Odisha where it has contributed
towards the preparation of a map of breeding sites of Sea Turtles; identification of breeding
places and habitats along the coast line, and migratory routes taken by Sea Turtles. The
project also helped in the development of guidelines to safeguard the turtle mortality rate and
for tourism in sea turtle areas. Amongst the major achievements of the project is the
demonstration of use of Satellite Telemetry to locate the migratory route of sea turtles in the
sea.

13 | W I L D L I F E P R O T E C T I O N
 CHAPTER 5
Legislation in India for the Protection of
Environment
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 ( Last amended in 2006)
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was enacted with the objective of effectively protecting
the wild life of this country and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife
and its derivatives. The Act was amended in January 2003 and punishment and penalty for
offences under the Act have been made more stringent. The Ministry has proposed further
amendments in the law by introducing more rigid measures to strengthen the Act. The
objective is to provide protection to the listed endangered flora and fauna and ecologically
important protected areas.

The Wildlife Act was passed in 1972 to protect the wildlife and their habitats. The habitat
destruction due to agriculture, industries, urbanisation and other human activities had led to
the erosion of the country’s wildlife.

The major activities and provisions in the act can be summed up as follows:

1. It defines the wildlife related terminology.

2. Enactment of an All India Wildlife Protection Act, (1972).

3. It provides for the appointment of wildlife advisory Board, Wildlife warden, their powers,
duties etc.

4. Becoming a party to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of

Fauna and Flora (CITES, 1976).

5. Launching a “national component of UNESCO’s ‘Man and Biosphere Programme’ (1971).

6. Under the Act, comprehensive listing of endangered wildlife species was done for the first
time and prohibition of hunting of the endangered species was mentioned.

7. Protection to some endangered plants.

8. The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries etc.

9. The Act provides for the constitution of Central Zoo Authority.

10. There is provision for trade and commerce in some wildlife species with license for sale,
possession, transfer etc.

11. The act imposes a ban on the trade or commerce in scheduled animals.

12. It provides for legal powers to officers and punishment to offenders.

It provides for captive breeding programme for endangered species. Several Conservation
Projects for individual endangered species like Lion (1972), Tiger (1973), Crocodile (1974)

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and Brown antlered Deer (1981) were stated under this Act. The Act is adopted by all states
in India except J & K, which has its own Act.

Some of the major drawbacks of the Act include mild penalty to offenders, illegal wildlife
trade in J & K, personal ownership certificate for animal articles like tiger and leopard skins,
no coverage of foreign endangered wildlife, pitiable condition of wildlife in mobile zoos and
little emphasis on protection of plant genetic resources.

The Forest Conservation Act, 1980

The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was enacted to help conserve the country's forests. It
strictly restricts and regulates the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest
purposes without the prior approval of Central Government. To this end the Act lays down
the pre-requisites for the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights)
Act, 2006, recognises the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional
forest dwellers over the forest areas inhabited by them and provides a framework for
according the same.

The Indian Forest Act, 1927 consolidates the law relating to forests, the transit of forest-
produce and the duty leviable on timber and other forest-produce.

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was born out of India's attempt to realise the objectives
enshrined in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 which
recognises the sovereign rights of states to use their own Biological Resources. The Act aims
at the conservation of biological resources and associated knowledge as well as facilitating
access to them in a sustainable manner. The National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai has
been established for the purposes of implementing the objects of the Act.

Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Act, 1960

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 prohibits any person from inflicting,
causing, or if it is the owner, permitting, unnecessary pain or suffering to be inflicted on any
animal. The Act makes it a crime to beat, kick, torture, mutilate, administer an injurious
substance, or cruelly kill an animal. It is also illegal to over-ride, over-drive, over-load, or
work an unfit animal. It is an offense to cruelly transport, confine, chain or tether an animal.
It is a violation to engage in animal fighting or shooting competitions in which animals are
released from captivity to be shot. An owner commits an offense if he or she fails to provide
sufficient food, drink or shelter, unreasonably abandons any animal, or permits any diseased
or disabled animal to roam or die in any street.

The Indian Forest Act, 1927

The Indian Forest Act of 1927 consolidated all the previous laws regarding forests that were
passed before the 1920s. The Act gave the Government and Forest Department the power to
create Reserved Forests, and the right to use Reserved Forests for Government use alone.

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It also created Protected Forests, in which the use of resources by local people was
controlled. Some forests were to be controlled by the village community, and these were
called village Forests. The Act remained in force till the 1980s when it was realized that
protecting forests for timber production alone was not acceptable. The other values of
protecting the services that forests provide and its valuable assets such as biodiversity began
to overshadow the importance of their revenue earnings from timber.

This led to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and its amendment 1988. India’s first Forest
Policy was enunciated in 1952. Between 1952 and 1988, the extent of deforestation was so
great that it became essential to formulate a new policy on forests and their utilization.

The earlier forest policies had focused only on revenue generation. In the 1980’s it became
clear that forests must be protected for their other functions such as the maintenance of soil
and water regimes centered on ecological concerns. It also provided for the use of goods and
services of the forest for its local inhabitants.

The new policy framework made conversion of forests into other uses much less possible.
Conservation of the forests as a natural heritage finds a place in the new policy, which
includes the preservation of its biological diversity and genetic resources.

Environment Protection Act, 1986

In India, environmental protection was not much of an issue till the mid-1980’s. That is,
environmental protection as a whole was never seriously considered. The government did
enact various legislation pertaining to the environment in the 1970’s and 80’s; most notably
the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981, Indian Forest Policy, 1988. But it took two major pushes,
one from the international community and one from the national community, to create the
Environment Protection Act.

The EPA 1986 came into force in all of India in November of 1986, under an official
notification. The Act contains 26 sections divided into 4 chapters. The Act has its genesis in
Indian Constitution’s Article 48(A) and Article 51(A)g. The Act is a part of Article 253 of the
Indian Constitution. The Act is special for many reasons. First, it has the sole aim of ensuring
the protection of the environment, the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution
and provides the authority to take strict action against perpetrators. Second, it is an Act that
takes precedence over other Acts. This means that if an offence is committed that is liable to
be booked under multiple legislation including this Act, the EPA 1986 will be given the
highest priority. Third, this Act forced the country to take note of environmental pollution in
a serious way.

Some of the special features of this Act include-

1. The Act covers all forms of pollution; air, water, soil and noise.

2. It provides the safe standards for the presence of various pollutants in the environment.

3. It prohibits the use of hazardous material unless prior permission is taken from the Central
Government.

4. It allows the central government to assign authorities in various jurisdictions to carry out
the laws of this Act.

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Animal Protection in the Constitution of India

Authority Provision

PART IV: DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF Per 48, the Constitution requires the State to
STATE POLICY, 48: Organisation of “take steps for preserving and improving the
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of
48A: Protection and improvement of cows and calves in other milch and draught
environment and safeguarding of forests and cattle.”
wild life
Per 48A, the Constitution places a duty on
the State to “endeavour to protect and
improve the environment and to safeguard
the forests and wild life of the country.”

Per List III, Both Parliament and the

legislature have the authority to make laws
on the following: “prevention of cruelty to
animals,” “protection of wild animals and
birds,” “prevention of the extension from
one State to another of infectious or
contagious diseases or pests affecting men,
animals or plants.”

PART IVA: FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES, Per 51A, the Constitution places a duty on
51A (g): Fundamental Duties every citizen to “protect and improve the
natural environment including forests, lakes,
rivers and wild life, and to have compassion
for living creatures.”

SEVENTH SCHEDULE: (Article 246), List Per List II, the Legislative Assembly is
II: State List and List III: Concurrent List given the authority to make laws on the
following: “[p]reservation, protection and
improvement of stock and prevention of
animal diseases; veterinary training and
practice…”

ELEVENTH SCHEDULE (Article 243G) Per the Eleventh Schedule, the Constitution
provides that Panchayat (local self
government) may make laws on the
following: “animal husbandry, dairying and
poultry”, and fisheries.

TWELFTH SCHEDULE: (Article 243W) Per the Twelfth Schedule, Municipalities

may undertake certain duties pertaining to
the regulation of slaughterhouses and
tanneries.

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Some Important Case Law Regarding Environmental
Provision and Constitution:
Ivory Traders & Manufactures Association Vs. Union of
India, 1997
In this case the Delhi High Court held that any trade which can harm the ecology can be
totally prohibited. The trades killed the elephants to procure ivory. It can not be taken as a
business or tread in the sense in which it is used under Art 19(1)(g) of the constitution hence
no citizen has a fundamental right to trade in ivory or ivory articles in genus or imported.

Indian Handicraft Emporium Vs. Union of India, 2003

In this case the court held that under Art 19(1)(g) of the constitution a tread which is
dangerous to the ecology could either regulated or be prohibited.

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 CHAPTER 6
Ways to Save Wildlife
There are more than 7 billion people on Earth. Imagine if every one of us committed to do
one thing — no matter how small — to protect wildlife every day. Even minor actions can
have a major impact when we all work together. Here are ways you can make a difference:

1. Adopt: From wild animals to wild places, there’s an option for everyone. Get together
with classmates to adopt an animal from a wildlife conservation organization such as the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Symbolic adoptions help fund organizations.

2. Volunteer: If you don’t have money to give, donate your time. Many organizations and
zoos have volunteer programs. You can help clean beaches, rescue wild animals or teach
visitors.

3. Visit: Zoos, aquariums, national parks and wildlife refuges are all home to wild animals.
Learn more about our planet’s species from experts. See Earth’s most amazing creatures up
close.

4. Donate: When you visit your local accredited zoos and nature reserves, pay the
recommended entry fee. Your donations help maintain these vital conservation areas.

5. Speak Up: Share your passion for wildlife conservation with your family. Tell your
friends how they can help. Ask everyone you know to pledge to do what they can to stop
wildlife trafficking.

6. Buy Responsibly: By not purchasing products made from endangered animals or their
parts, you can stop wildlife trafficking from being a profitable enterprise.

7. Pitch In: Trash isn’t just ugly, it’s harmful. Birds and other animals can trap their heads in
plastic rings. Fish can get stuck in nets. Plus, trash pollutes everyone’s natural resources. Do
your part by putting trash in its place.

8. Recycle: Find new ways to use things you already own. If you can’t reuse, recycle. The
Minnesota Zoo encourages patrons to recycle mobile phones to reduce demand for the
mineral coltan, which is mined from lowland gorillas’ habitats.

9. Restore: Habitat destruction is the main threat to 85 percent of all threatened and
endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. You
can help reduce this threat by planting native trees, restoring wetlands or cleaning up beaches
in your area.

10. Join: Whether you’re into protecting natural habitats or preventing wildlife trafficking,
find the organization that speaks to your passion and get involved. Become a member. Stay
informed. Actively support the organization of your choice.

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Living in Harmony With Wildlife
We cause our wild friends much more trouble than they cause us. Every day, humans invade
their territory, destroy their homes, and break up their families. Just as you don’t want
someone to hurt you, animals don’t want to be harmed, either.

Sometimes, animals enter our homes or gardens by accident or because they’re looking for
food or protection. They need our help. Gently helping animals return to nature is easier than
you might think. Follow these simple tips:

1. Say no to plastic bags, bottles, and other single-use plastic items, and instead use canvas
tote bags and reusable metal bottles. Cows, turtles, whales, and other animals ingest or get
entangled in plastic waste. Recycle paper, metal, and glass whenever possible, and don’t
litter.

2. If a bird is trapped inside your house, turn off all indoor lights; close all curtains, blinds, or
shutters; and open an outside door. The bird should fly towards the light outside. If the animal
doesn’t leave, wait until it’s dark, then open a door, turn on an outside light, and turn off all
lights in the house. The bird should fly out towards the light. This takes patience, but it
usually works.

3. If a bat enters your home, keep calm, get children and animal companions quietly out of
the room, create an escape route by opening the doors and windows, and turn off all lights
except a very dim one. Ensure that outdoor lights are also turned off. Have two people hold
up and stretch out a large sheet to narrow the flight path and encourage the bat to leave if
necessary. Alternatively, if possible, you may put a wide-mouthed open jar gently over the
bat, slide a piece of cardboard slowly over the top, and then safely release the bat outside.
Once the animal is out of the house, close the windows and doors. In case of an emergency in
which a bat must be handled, handlers should always wear thick gloves and use a towel to
gather up the animal gently. Bats are delicate, so extreme care must be taken not to hurt them.

4. Monkeys’ jungle homes are being encroached upon and torn down, so they often go into
cities looking for food. You can encourage them to go back to the jungle by ensuring that
trash in your area is regularly picked up; keeping all trash around your building in tightly
sealed, chew-proof containers; and eliminating access to the home by installing bars on
windows or keeping windows closed.

5. Like monkeys, leopards and other big cats are also struggling with reduced jungle space. If
you spot a big cat in your area, don’t panic or try to take matters into your own hands. Go
indoors, and call your state forest department.

6. Before discarding them, tightly seal jars and cut apart any containers in which animals
could get their heads or other body parts trapped. Rinse out tins, put sharp tops inside to
prevent animals from injuring themselves on them, and flatten the open end of the tins.

7. To keep mice and rats out of your home, seal holes and cracks and store all food in glass,
metal, or ceramic containers. If you think you have an animal visitor, put peppermint oil–
soaked cotton balls and rags throughout infested areas. (Rodents don’t like the smell.) If you
must trap a rodent, use a humane live trap to catch the animal and then gently release him or
her outside. Check the trap frequently so that animals don’t die from dehydration or
starvation, and if the trap is plastic, make sure it has air holes.

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8. Most baby birds found on the ground are fledglings whose mom is usually nearby. See if
you can spot the nest, and keep an eye out for the mom. If the baby is in harm’s way, such as
on a road, gently wrap the bird in a towel and place him or her in the grass or in a safer area
nearby. You can create a “nest” by nailing a small box filled with bedding material to a tree
trunk, placing the bird inside, and watching to see whether that encourages the parent to
return. The parent won’t reject baby birds humans have handled – that’s a myth. If none of
this works and the baby needs help, contact PETA India or your local animal-protection
group.

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 CHAPTER 7

CONCLUTION
The need for conservation of wildlife in India is often questioned because of the apparently
incorrect priority in the face of direct poverty of the people. However, Article 48 of the
Constitution of India specifies that, "The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the
environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country" and Article 51-A states
that "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living
creatures." The committee in the Indian Board for Wildlife, in their report, defines wildlife as
"the entire natural uncultivated flora and fauna of the country" while the Wildlife (protection)
Act, 1972 defines it as "any animal, bees, butterflies, crustacea, fish, moths and aquatic or
land vegetation which forms part of any habitat."

Despite the various environmental issues faced, the country still has a rich and varied wildlife
compared to Europe. Large and charismatic mammals are important for wildlife tourism in
India, and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs. Project Tiger,
started in 1972, is a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats. At the turn of the 20th
century, one estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 40,000, yet an
Indian tiger census conducted in 2008 revealed the existence of only 1,411 tigers. 2010 tiger
census revealed that there are 1700 tigers left in India. As per the latest tiger census (2019),
there are around 2967 tigers in India. Various pressures in the later part of the 20th century
led to the progressive decline of wilderness resulting in the disturbance of viable tiger
habitats. At the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) General Assembly meeting in Delhi in 1969, serious concern was voiced about the
threat to several species of wildlife and the shrinkage of wilderness in India. In 1970, a
national ban on tiger hunting was imposed, and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into
force. The framework was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an
ecological approach. However, there is not much optimism about this framework's ability to
save the peacock, which is the national bird of India. George Schaller wrote about
conservation of tigers in India.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOK
1. P.Leelakrishnan, Environmental Law, 6th edition 2018, Butterworth India 2018

2. DR. J.N. Pandey, Constitutional Law of India, 55rd Edition, Central Law Agency

3. Supreme Court on Environmental Law, Surendra Mallik 10th Edition

WEB SITE
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife (Last Visited on 15.09.2019)

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_India (Last Visited on 15.09.2019)

3. https://www.tourmyindia.com/blog/reasons-to-save-wildlife/ (Last Visited on 16.09.2019)

4. https://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/blog/wildlife-conservation-initiatives-indian-
government/ (Last Visited on 16.09.2019)

5. https://www.petaindia.com/issues/wildlife/ (Last Visited on 17.09.2019)

6. https://share.america.gov/top-10-ways-save-wildlife/ (Last Visited on 17.09.2019)

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