The document summarizes wildlife protection projects undertaken by the Government of India, including key policies, legislations, and conservation efforts. It discusses the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, amendments to enhance protections, and creation of protected areas across the country. Major projects covered include Project Tiger launched in 1973 to protect tigers and their habitats, Project Elephant launched in 1992, and the establishment of organizations like the Central Zoo Authority and National Board for Wildlife to oversee conservation initiatives. International conventions on wildlife trade and protection India is a signatory to are also summarized.

1. Wildlife Protection: Projects undertaken by
Govt. of India for Wildlife Protection
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Wildlife Protection: Projects undertaken by Govt. of India for Wildlife Protection!
Wildlife is an important component of biodiversity. To prevent the extinction of species,
conservation efforts have been initiated.
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Policies and Legislations:

2. To govern wildlife conservation and protection of endangered species, the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 was adopted by all states excluding Jammu and Kashmir (which has
its own Act). The Act prohibits trade in rare and endangered species.
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Government at central level provides financial assistance to states for (i) strengthening
management and protection of infrastructure of national parks and sanctuaries; (ii) protection
of wildlife and control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products; (iii) captive
breeding programmes for endangered species of wildlife; (iv) wildlife education and
interpretation; (v) development of zoos; (vi) conservation of rhinos in Assam; (vii) protection
of tiger, elephant, etc.
The 1972 Act has been amended to make the provisions more effective. Endangered species
of plants and animals have been brought under the purview of the Act. Under a new
amendment to the Act in 2002, penalties are sought to be enhanced for violations of the
provisions of the Act.
Also proposed is the creation of two new categories of protected areas, viz., ‘conservation
reserve’ and ‘community reserve’. A Central Zoo Authority (CZA) was established in 1992
under the Act to oversee the management of zoological parks in the country.
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The CZA was reconstituted for the sixth time in September 2007 with Minister of State,
Environment and Forests as its chairman. There is a total 15 member contingents in CZA for
discharge of its mandated functions.
The main functions of the CZA are:
(i) Specification of minimum standards for housing, upkeep and veterinary care of the
animals in the zoos.
(ii) Recognition of zoos on the basis of evaluation of their functioning.
(iii) Identification of endangered species of wild animals for the purpose of captive breeding
and assignment of responsibility in this regard to zoos.
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(iv) Coordination of the acquisition, exchange and loaning of animals for breeding.
(v) Provision of technical and other assistance to zoos for management and development on
scientific lines.

3. A National Studbook Cell has been envisaged for maintaining national studbooks of all the
endangered wild animal species. A National Referral Centre (NRC) was established at Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly for providing super specialty services and diagnostic
facilities for better health care of wild animals in Indian zoos.
Recognition of zoos is now based on notified standards for upkeep, maintenance and
veterinary care of animals.
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In 1983, the Government of India adopted an National Wildlife Action Plan to provide the
framework of strategy as well as a programme for wildlife conservation. The 1983 action
plan was revised, and a new plan (2002-2016) has now been adopted. A monitoring
committee will oversee the implementation of the plan.
The important decisions taken during the third meeting of the National Board for wildlife in
June 2006 included an alternate home for lions, survey for assessing the current status of
peacocks in India, preparation of an action plan for conservation of the red jungle fowl, and
identification of wetlands outside the protected area system for conservation.
The standing committee of the Board was reconstituted in July 2007 and the fourth meeting
of the Board was held in November 2007. The important decisions taken included setting up
of a sub-committee for recovery programme of endangered terrestrial species and for
conservation of marine species.
A Wildlife Institute was set up at Dehradun and a Wildlife Advisory Committee was
constituted (in 1996) to advise on various aspects of wildlife conservation and related
matters.
The Indian Board of Wildlife, headed by the prime minister, is the apex advisory body
overseeing and guiding the implementation of various schemes for wildlife conservation. It
was reconstituted on December 7, 2001.
The protected area network in India includes 99 national parks and 513 wildlife sanctuaries,
41 conservation reserves and 4 community reserves.
The Animal Welfare Division became a part of Ministry of Environment and Forests in July
2002. Earlier, the division was under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The mandate of Animal Welfare Division is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or
suffering on animals. The main task of the division is to implement effectively the various
provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
The division provides assistance for construction of shelter houses, dispensaries, etc., for
stray, infirm and abandoned animals. It also gives grants for ambulances and vehicles in
connection with treatment and transportation of sick, injured and rescued animals. Another
major developmental programme is immunisation and sterilisation of stray dogs.
A National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) at Faridabad has also been established to
impart training and education in animal welfare and veterinary science. The institute aims at

4. creating an enabling environment for the fulfillment of statutory requirements under the PCA
Act, 1960.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory body under the PCA Act, 1960.
With headquarters at Chennai, its basic mandate is to advise the government on animal
welfare issues, and create awareness in animal welfare. The AWBI gives financial assistance
to eligible animal welfare organisations for shelter houses, model gaushalas for setting up of
bio-gas plants, famine/drought relief, earthquake relief, etc., in various states.
The Committee for Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals
(CPCSEA) is also a statutory body under the PCA Act, I960 with headquarters at Chennai.
The mandate of this committee is to register and monitor the animal breeders and institutions
conducting experiments on animals.
International Conventions Related to Wildlife:
India is a party to five major international conventions related to wildlife conservation, viz.,
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Coalition Against
Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), International Whaling Commission (IWC), United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation—World Heritage Committee (UNESCO-
WHC), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The Ministry of Environment and
Forests is the nodal agency for these conventions.
i. CITES:
The Government of India signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of wild flora and fauna on July 20, 1976. Under this convention, export or import of
endangered species and their products is subject to strict- controls. Commercial exploitation
of such species is also prohibited.
The 14th conference of parties to the CITES was held at The Hague, Netherlands, in June
2007. The Indian delegation actively participated and intervened in various agenda,
particularly those which were of national interest or indirectly affected our conservation
efforts. India’s initiatives in conservation of Asian Big Cats and Tibetan Antelope were much
appreciated. The CoP also acknowledged the establishment of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
by India.
ii. CAWT:
The Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking is a global coalition of governments and
international business and conservation organisations, working together to support each
other’s efforts to end the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products. It is not a legal entity
but a partnership of like-minded governments and organisations who are willing to make a
political commitment to end wildlife trafficking.
India has joined hands with the US and other partners against the illegal wildlife
crime/trafficking. The first meeting of the ministerial partners was held in Nairobi in
February 2007.
iii. IWC:

5. India, a member of -the International Whaling Commission since 1981, has played a pro-
active and prominent role in bringing about a moratorium on commercial whaling and
supporting the commission in its efforts in conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
iv. UNESCO-WHO:
The UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is responsible for lifting of world heritage sites,
which include both cultural and natural sites. The wildlife department of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests of India is associated with Conservation of the natural world
heritage sites. An externally-aided project has also been undertaken by we ministry for the
conservation of wildlife.
The total period of the project is 10 years with two phases. The project will be undertaken in
four world heritage sites of India, viz., Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nanda
Devi National Park, and Keoladeo National Park.
v. CMS:
India is a signatory to the convention on Conservation of Migratory Species, also known as
Bonn convention, since 1983. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CMS
at Bangkok in February 2007 for the conservation and management of marine turtles and
their habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia.
Project Tiger:
The Government of India launched Project Tiger on April 1, 1973 in the Corbett National
Park as a consequence of the concrete international effort to create an awareness and raise
funds for saving the tiger. This international effort was led by Guy Mountfort of the World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
It ensured maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic,
aesthetic, cultural and ecological values, and to preserve for all times, areas of biological
importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people”.
Initially, nine tiger wildlife reserves (with 268 tigers) constituted the Project Tiger network.
As of 2008, there were 28 tiger reserves in 17 states, covering an area of 37,761 sq. km. The
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was amended in 2006 to incorporate the creation of the
National Tiger Conservation Authority. The first meeting of the National Tiger Conservation
Authority was held in November 2006. With the amendment of this Act, a Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau was also subsequently established.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests provides necessary technical and financial support
to the state governments for wildlife conservation under various centrally sponsored schemes
(CSS). The states receive 100 per cent financial assistance for non-recurring items and 50 per
cent for approved recurring items. The punishment in cases of offence within a tiger reserve
has also been enhanced.
Following are some of the administrative measures taken by the environment and
forests ministry:

6. i. Strengthening of antipoaching activities, including special strategy for monsoon patrolling
by providing funding support to tiger reserve states.
ii. Provision of hundred per cent central assistance to 17 tiger reserves as an addition for
deployment of “tiger protection force”.
iii. Constitution of a multidisciplinary Tigers and Other Endangered Species Crime Control
Bureau, with effect from June 2007, comprising officers from police, forest, customs and
other enforcement agencies to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife.
iv. Approval for eight new tiger reserves.
v. Evolution and mainstreaming of a scientific methodology for estimating the number of
tigers.
vi. Identification of approximately 31,111 sq. km of core or critical tiger habitat in 17 states.
The Project Tiger guidelines have been further revised and include funding support to states
for enhanced village relocation; rehabilitation of communities involved in traditional hunting
and mainstreaming livelihood and wildlife concerns in forests; and fostering corridor con-
servation through restorative strategy to stop habitat fragmentation.
International Cooperation in Tiger Conservation:
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal
trade in wildlife and conservation.
i. A protocol on tiger conservation with China.
ii. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries for addressing international issues related
to tiger conservation.
iii. A resolution along with China, Nepal and Russia for restricting breeding tigers on a
commercial scale and for adopting measures to conserve wild tigers.
Tiger Reserves:
The selection of reserves is guided by representation of ecotypical wilderness areas across the
biogeographic range of tiger distribution in the country. Project Tiger is a custodian of major
gene pool in the country. It is also a repository of some of the most valuable ecosystem and
habitats for wildlife.
The Tiger Reserves are constituted on a ‘core-buffer strategy’. The core area is kept free of
biotic disturbances and forestry operations, where collection of minor forest produce, grazing
human disturbances are not allowed within. However, the buffer zone is managed as a
‘multiple use area with twin objectives of providing habitat supplement to the spillover
population of wild animals from the core conservation unit, and to provide site-specific
ecodevelopmental inputs to surrounding villages for relieving the impact on the core.

7. No relocation is visualised in the buffer area, and forestry operations, Non-Timber Forest
Produce (NTFP) collection and other rights and concessions to the indigenous communities
are supposed to be permitted in a regulated manner to complement the initiatives in the core
unit.
Tiger Reserves inTiger Range States:
Sl. Year of
No. Creation
Name of the
Reserve
State Total
Area in
Sq km
1. 1973-74 Bandipur Karnataka 866
1999-2000
Nagarhole
(extension)
643
2. 1973-74 Corbett Now in
Uttarakhand
(earlier in Uttar
Pradesh)
1316
3. 1973-74 Kan ha Madhya
Pradesh
1945
4. 1973-74 Manas Assam 2840
5. 1973-74 Melghat Maharashtra 1677
6. 1973-74 Palamau Now in
Jharkhand
(earlier in
Bihar) 1026
7. 1973-74 Ranthambhore Rajasthan 1334
8. 1973-74 Similipal Orissa 2750
9. 1973-74 Sunderbans West Bengal 2585
10. 1978-79 Periyar Kerala 777
11. 1978-79 Sariska Rajasthan 866
12. 1982-83 Buxa West Bengal 759
13. 1982-83 Indravati Chhattisgarh 2799
(earlier in
Madhya
Pradesh)
14. 1982-83 Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh3568
15. 1982-83 Namdapha Arunachal
Pradesh
1985
16. 1987-88 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh 811
1999-2000 Katerniaghat
(extension)
551
17. 1988-89 Kalakad-
Mundanthurai
Tamil Nadu 800
18. 1989-90 Valmiki Bihar 840
19. 1992-93 Pench Madhya
Pradesh
758
20. 1993-94 Tadoba-Andheri Maharashtra 620

8. 21. 1993-94 Bandhavgarh Madhya
Pradesh
1162
22. 1994-95 Panna Madhya
Pradesh
542
23. 1994-95 Dampha Mizoram 500
24. 1998-99 Bhadra Karnataka 492
25. 1998-99 Pench Maharashtra 257
26. 1999-2000 Pakhui-Nameri Arunachal
Pradesh-Assam
1206
27. 1999-2000 Bori, Satpura,
Panchmari
Madhya
Pradesh
1486
Total 37.731
An eco-development scheme in and around national parks and sanctuaries including tiger
reserves was also launched to provide alternate sources of sustenance to the communities
living at the fringes of national parks and sanctuaries including tiger reserves, to improve the
ecological productivity of the buffer zones of protected areas through the involvement of
these communities in protecting these sanctuaries and national parks and their wild life;
through a well-designed package of activities aimed at providing sustenance to the forest side
communities and ameliorating their hardships to minimise conflicts between those commu-
nities and the protection staffs.
The various activities undertaken under the scheme are:
i. Habitat improvement
ii. Alternate sources of energy
iii. Infrastructure building/roads, etc., and
iv. Small welfare measures.
Project Elephant:
In India elephants are mainly to be found in the rain forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and
Kerala; the tropical forests of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Central India, and the western region;
and the Himalayan foothills in the north-east and Uttarakhand. India has about 25,000
elephants.
The elephant habitat has shrunk over the years, and poaching for elephant tusks has
endangered the species especially in southern India. Construction of roads and dams has led
to encroachment of forest lands, interfering with the traditional migratory routes of elephants
necessary for them in their search for food. Conversion of natural forests to monocarp
plantations for commercial purposes has also been harmful. The forced isolation of elephants
in reserves has often led to inbreeding with the consequential negative effects.

9. Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 to assist states having free-ranging
populations of wild elephants to ensure long term survival of identified viable populations of
elephants in their natural habitats.
The project is being implemented in 13 states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The states are given financial as well as
technical and scientific assistance in achieving the objectives of the project.
The main activities of Project Elephant are as follows:
(i) Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants;
(ii) Development of scientific and planned management for conservation of elephant habitats
and viable population of wild Asiatic elephants in India;
(iii) Promotion of measures for mitigation of man-elephant conflict in crucial habitats and
moderating pressures of human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats;
(iv) Strengthening of measures for protection of wild elephants from poachers and unnatural
causes of death;
(v) Research on issues related to management of elephant conservation;
(vi) Public education and awareness programmes;
(vii) Eco-development;
(viii) Veterinary care; and
(ix) Building up the stock of field staff, mahouts and veterinarians.
Elephant Reserves inIndia (2005 Census Population):

12. Protecting Vultures:
The report of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries made a shocking
revelation on the population of vultures that has decimated in the entire region of South Asia.
One of the major causes of decimation of the population of vultures is the pharmaceutical
drug, diclofenac, which is toxic to the bird even at relatively low dosage.
This is a matter of great concern as vultures are natural scavengers and play a crucial role in
the ecosystem, and are also essential for the overall well being of the environment and life
support system.
In May 2006, the Government of India initiated preventive actions to curb further decline in
the population of vultures which also includes banning the use of diclofenac in veterinary
sector.
Following are the other measures adopted by the government:
i. An “action plan” for vulture conservation is being implemented to stem the decline and put
the vulture population on growth path.
ii. The government has extended support to breeding centres at Pinjore in Haryana, Buxa in
West Bengal and Rani Forest in Assam.
iii. Captive breeding centres at four zoos at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Junagarh and Hyderabad
have also been set up through the Central Zoo Authority.
Protecting Gharials:
It was reported in 2008 that since mid-December 2007 dozens of the rare Indian crocodile,
known as the gharial, are turning up dead on the banks of the Chambal River. They have
perished, apparently as a result of a mysterious live disease, while the population of these
animals in the wild has been dropping steadily.
The decline in the population of adult gharials from 436 about a decade ago to 182 in 2006,
according to World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates, has raised international alarm. It
has prompted the IUCN to classify them as critically endangered on its Red List of species.
The Central government’s initiative to set up a crisis management group for the gharial with
help from the World Wildlife Fund offers some hope. A comprehensive investigation to
determine the cause of the gharial deaths and urgent remedial measures has been called for.
There may also be some merit in the criticism from conservationists that poor enforcement in
prime gharial nesting areas in the Chambal has created ruinous habitat disturbance. Sand
mining and the hunting of fish and turtles in the protected areas have led to the destruction of
nesting sites, the depletion of fish, and the killing of gharials that accidentally get entangled
in turtle nets; poorly conceived dams, barrages, irrigation canals, and roaming livestock have
added to the pressure.
Conservationists say the gharial deaths are a cause for worrying because they could be the
first sign of river contamination and of potential threats to the rest of the ecosystem.

13. The gharial (a fish-eating crocodile with a long snout), native to South Asia, is one of the
most endangered freshwater crocodile species. The World Wide Fund for Nature believes it is
extinct in its former habitats of Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar. Now, it is reported only from
India and Nepal.
An estimated 1,300 gharials are left in the wild, mostly in India, according to the Fund. The
government, under pressure from conservationists, set up protected areas in 1979 along the
Chambal to prevent poaching of their skin for high-grade crocodile leather, and it raises eggs
in captivity to protect them from predators.
The World Conservation Union recently upgraded it from being an “endangered” to a
“critically endangered” species. But the recent deaths have further depleted the stock of
breeding pairs to less than 200, conservationists and the Forest Department believes.
Animal Welfare Division:
The mandate of the Animal Welfare Division is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain
or suffering on animals. The division is entrusted with the implementation of the provisions
of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Some of the important rules framed under the act include:
i. Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001
ii. Transport of Animal Rules, 1978 and 2001
iii. Prevention of Cruelty (Slaughter Houses) Rules, 2001
iv. Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001
v. Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998
vi. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Society for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals) Rules 2001
Statutory organisations have also been set up under this Act:
(a) Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI):
A statutory body under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, its
headquarters is in Chennai. Its basic mandate is to advise the government on animal welfare
issues, and create awareness in animal welfare. The Board gives financial assistance to
eligible animal welfare organisations for maintenance, etc., through funds released by the
animal welfare division.
Other activities of the Board include the following:
(i) Propagation of “Humane Education”. The Animal Welfare fortnight, held from January
14-30, and World Animal Day on October 4th, is celebrated by all animal welfare
organisations around the world.

14. (ii) Providing free, on the spot veterinary treatment to sick and injured animals belonging to
the poor people through mobile clinic programmes.
(iii) Publishing magazines—Animal Citizen, Jeev Sarthi and AWBI Newsletter—in which
important news, events, articles and activities of animal welfare organisations, etc., are
published.
(iv) Filed a petition in Supreme Court of India to ban the cruel game of cattle race and has
obtained a stay order.
(v) Initiatives taken for modernising the gaushalas through in-house training of gaushala
personnel. The Board is making all the efforts to modernise the gaushalas by utilising the
huge potential of biomass for production of biogas, bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticide that
would go a long way in upliftment of rural economy.
(vi) National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) has been set up in Haryana as the
subordinate office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It imparts training and
education in animal welfare on diversified basis comprising, among other things, animal
management, their behaviour and ethics. Its broad mandate covers the need to improve
animal welfare through education, research and public outreach.
(vii) Creation of shelter houses for distressed animals.
(viii) Introduced a scheme for birth control and immunisation of stray dogs for controlling the
population of it by sterilisation and for reducing incidences of rabies through timely
immunisation.
(ix) Provision of ambulance services to animals in distress. Under the scheme, animal welfare
organisations are given grant for purchase of suitable vehicle for transportation, rescue and
also for providing emergency services to animals.
(x) Introduction of a scheme for relief to animals during natural calamities and unforeseen
circumstances.
(b) Committee for Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals
(CPCSEA):
A statutory body under Section 15 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, its
headquarters are in Chennai. The main function of the committee is to register institutions
carrying out animal experimentation and/or breeding, to consider approval of animal house
facilities, and to regulate use of animals in experimentation.
The mandate of this committee is to ensure that while conducting various types of
experiments, for medical research or for educational purposes, the animals are not subjected
to avoidable pain or suffering. By the Eleventh Plan, more than 1100 establishments have
been registered.