2. Introduction
• As we know, wild animals collectively and the native
fauna (and sometimes flora) of a region is called
wildlife.
• Wildlife traditionally refers to non domesticated animal
species, but has come to include all plants, fungi, and
other organisms that grow or live wild in an area
without being introduced by humans.
• The Indian Board of Wildlife (IBWL) was created in
1952 in our country, which after the enactment of the
Wildlife (Protection) Act actively took up the task of
setting up wildlife National Parks and sanctuaries.
3. About the ACT
• An Act to provide for the protection of [Wild
animals, birds and plants] and for matters
connected therewith.
• The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of
the Parliament of India enacted on 9th
September, 1972.
• It extends to whole of India, except Jammu
and Kashmir.
• It has 63 sections and 7 chapters.
4. Objectives
• The main objectives of the Act are as Follows:
• Prohibition on Hunting of Specified wild
animals, birds and plants.
• Setting up and management of national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Control of Trade and Commerce in wildlife and
wildlife products.
5. Details of Chapters in Act
• CHAPTER I Preliminary
• CHAPTER II Authorities to be appointed or constituted
• CHAPTER III Hunting of Wild Animals
• CHAPTER-IIIA Protection of Specified Plants
• CHAPTER IV Sanctuaries, National Park, and Closed Areas
• CHAPTER -IVA Central Zoo Authority and Recognition Of Zoos
• CHAPTER V Trade or Commerce in Wild Animals, Animal Articles
and Trophies
• CHAPTER VA Prohibition of Trade or Commerce in Trophies, Animal
Articles, etc. derived from Certain Animals.
• CHAPTER VI Prevention and Detection of Offences
• CHAPTER VII Miscellaneous
6. DEFINITIONS OF SOME TERMS USED UNDER THE ACT
• “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.
• “Habitat” includes land, water, or vegetation
which is the natural home of any wild animal.
• “license” means a license
• granted under this Act;
7. DEFINITIONS OF SOME TERMS USED UNDER THE ACT
• “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.
• Wildlife" includes any animal, bees, butterflies,
crustacean, fish and moths; and aquatic or land
vegetation which forms part of any habitat.
• Vermin; Wildlife Warden, NP, Area, etc
8. Appointment of Director /another
officers
• The Central Government may, for the purposes of this Act
appoint
– (a) a Director of Wildlife Preservation;
– (b) Assistant Directors of Wildlife Preservation; and
– (c) such other officers and employees as may be necessary
• The State Government may, for the purposes of this Act,
appoint –
– (a) a Chief Wildlife Warden;
– (b) Wildlife Wardens;
– (c) such other officers and employees as may be necessary.
• Constitution of the Wildlife Advisory Board.
• Duties of the Wildlife Advisory Board
9. Hunting of Animals
• The Act prohibits hunting of wild animals.
• No person shall hunt any wild animals as
specified in the schedules.
• However there are some exceptions to it.
– any wild animal has become dangerous to
human life or is so disabled or diseased as to be
beyond recovery.
– The killing or wounding in good faith of any wild
animal in defence of oneself or of any other person
shall not be an offence.
– Grant of permit for special purposes (Education,
research, Scientific Management)
10. Sanctuaries, National Park, and Closed
Areas
• Under the Act, comprehensive listing of endangered wild
life species was done for the first time and prohibition of
hunting of the endangered species was mentioned.
• Protection to some endangered plants like Beddome
cycad, Blue Vanda, Slipper Orchid, Pitcher plant etc. is also
provided under the Act.
• The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuaries etc.
• The Act provides for the constitution of Central Zoo
Authority.
• The State Government may, by notification, declare any
area closed to hunting for such period as may be specified
in the notification
11. Trade or Commerce in Wild Animals,
Animal Articles and Trophies
• Wild Animal, etc. to be Government property.
• Declaration. – Every person having at the
commencement of this Act the control, custody,
or possession of any captive animal or skin or
musk or horn, shall, within thirty days from the
commencement of this Act, declare to the Chief
Wildlife-Warden /authorised officer the number
and description of animal, or article.
• Inquiry and preparation of inventories. - On
receipt of a declaration
12. Certificate of ownership
• The Chief Wildlife Warden may, for the purposes of
Sec. 40, issue a certificate of ownership in such form,
as may be prescribed, to any person who, in his
opinion, is in lawful possession of any wild animal or
any animal article, trophy, or uncured trophy, and may,
where possible, mark, in the prescribed manner, such
animal article, trophy or uncured trophy for the
purposes of Identification.
• Regulation of transfer of animal etc. (No person may be
allowed to sell/buy/transfer/ make animal articles
previous permission in writing of the Chief Wildlife
Warden
13. Power of entry, search, arrest and
detention. -
• The Director or any other authorised by him in
this behalf or the Chief Wildlife Warden or the
authorised officer or any forest officer or any
police officer not below the rank of a sub-
inspector may, if he has reasonable grounds
for believing that any person has committed
an offence against this Act.
• May stop vehicle, Seize any material related to
act.
14. Penalties.
• Any person who commits a breach of any of
the conditions of any licence or permit
granted under this Act, shall be guilty of an
offence against this Act, and shall, on
conviction, be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to [03 years] or
with fine which may extend to [25000/-
rupees] or with both.
15. Major drawbacks of the Act
• Some of the major drawbacks of the Act
include mild penalty to offenders,
• Iillegal wild life 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.
