1. WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT
The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of
India enacted on 9th September, 1972.
It provides for protection of wild animals, birds and plants ; and for
matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.
It extends to whole of India.
It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection.
2. DEFINITIONS OF SOME TERMS USED UNDER THEACT
•“Animal” includes amphibians, birds, mammals,
and reptiles
•“Animal article” means any article made from
any captive or wild animal .
Snake and crocodile skin products Ivory articles
3. • “Hunting” includes capturing,
killing, poisoning, trapping, injuring
animals , birds or reptiles.
• “Trophy” means the whole or any
part of any captive or wild animal
which has been kept or preserved
by any means.
4. • “Wildlife" includes any animal,
bees, butterflies, crustacean,
fish and moths; and aquatic or
land vegetation which forms
part of any habitat.
5. AUTHORITIES APPOINTED UNDER THEACT
The Central Government may appoint :-
i. A Director of Wild Life preservation.
ii. Assistant Directors of Wild Life preservation.
iii. Other officers and employees as may be necessary.
The State Government may appoint :-
III.
I. A Chief Wild Life Warden.
II. Wild Life Wardens.
•One Honorary Wild Life Warden in each district
Other officers and employees as may be necessary.
6. WILD LIFE ADVISORY BOARD
The Act enforces and enables the State Governments and the
administrators of the union Territories to constitute a Wildlife Advisory
Board in each state and union territory.
The Board advises the State Government in the following matters:
a) Areas to be declared as sanctuaries, national parks or closed areas
and their administration.
b) Formulation of policy for protection and conservation of wildlife.
c) Amendment of any schedule.
d) Harmonizing the need of tribals and dwellers of forest.
e) Any other matter referred by the State Government.
7. HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS
Hunting of animals specified in Schedule I, II, III and IV is prohibited.
Hunting of wild animals is permitted in certain cases:
a) If the animal has become dangerous to human life or disabled
beyond recovery.
b) Killing or wounding in good faith in defence of oneself or any
other person.
Any wild animal killed or wounded in defence of any person shall be
Government property.
8. Grant of permit for special purposes:
a) Education.
b) Scientific research, Scientific management.
c) Collection of specimen for zoos, museums and similar
institutions.
d) Derivation, collection or preparation of snake-venom for
manufacture of life-saving drugs.
Previous permission required of the Central Government for wild
animals specified in schedule I before grant of permit.
For any other wild animals, previous permission of State
Government required before grant of permit.
HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS
9. PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS
No person shall:
a) willfully pick, uproot, damage, destroy, acquire, or collect any
specified plant from any forest land and any specified area by Central
Government.
b) possess, sell, offer for sale, or transfer by way to gift or otherwise, or
transport any specified plant whether alive or dead, or part or
derivative thereof .
Member of scheduled tribe residing in that district are not prevented if it
is for their personal use
10. PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS
Grants of permit for special purposes:
a) Education.
b) Scientific research.
c) Collection, preservation and display in a herbarium of any scientific
institution.
Propagation by a person or institution approved by Central
Government.
Cultivation of specified plants without license is prohibited.
11. Dealing in specified plants without license is prohibited.
The purchase of specified plants is permitted only from licensed
dealers.
PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS
12. SANCTUARIES, NATIONAL PARKS AND CLOSEDAREAS
The State Government may, by notification,
declare its intention to constitute any area comprised within any reserve
forest or the territorial waters as a SANCTUARY
if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural or zoological significance,
for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life or its
environment.
13. Whenever it appears to the State Government that an area, whether within a
sanctuary or not, is, by reason of its
ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological association or
importance, needed to be constituted as National Park for the
purpose of protecting, propogating or developing wild life therein or its
environment,
it may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute such area as a
National Park.
NATIONAL PARKS
14. CLOSED AREAS
The State Government may, by notification, declare any area closed to
hunting for such period as may be specified in the notification.
No hunting of any wild animal shall be permitted in a closed area during
the period specified in the notification.
15. TRADE OR COMMERCE IN WILD ANIMALS, ANIMAL
ARTICLE AND TROPHIES
No person shall :
a) Commence or carry on the business as:
Manufacturer, dealer, taxidermist of scheduled animal or
animal articles or trophies or captive animals.
b) Dealer in meat derived from any schedule animal in eating-
house.
16. PENALTIES
Imprisonments varying from six months upto seven years and/or fine
ranging from ₹500 upto not less than ₹10,000 depending on the nature or
seriousness of the offence committed regarding the specified wildlife.
Forfeiture of Property Derived from Illegal Hunting and Trade or a fine
equal to the market value of such property in lieu or forfeiture.
