Wildlife
Act
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended 1993, 2002 and 2006
This 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. It provides a powerful legal framework for prohibition of hunting, protection and management of wildlife habitats, establishment of protected areas, regulation and control of trade in parts and products derived from wildlife etc. Specifically it provides for creation of a network of Protected Areas consisting of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves. No wild mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile, fish, crustacean, insects, or coelenterates listed in four Schedules of the Act can be hunted either within or outside protected areas. On conviction, the penalty for hunting is imprisonment for a period ranging from a minimum of three to a maximum of seven years with fines not less than 10,000 rupees. It prohibits the destruction or diversion of wildlife and its habitat by any method unless it is for improvement or better management and this is decided by the state government in consultation with the National and State Boards for Wildlife. The 2006 amendment introduced a new chapter (IV B) for establishment of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and notification of Tiger Reserves. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was constituted vide the 2006 amendment to monitor and control the illegal trade in wildlife products. The act provides for investigation and prosecution of offences in a court of law by authorized officers of the forest department and police officers.
Rules
- 1. Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009
- 2. The National Board for Wild Life Rules, 2003
- 3. The Declaration of Wild Life Stock Rules, 2003
- 4. The Wildlife (Specified Plant Stock Declaration) Central Rules, 1995
- 5. The Wildlife (Specified Plants – Conditions for Possession by Licensee) Rules, 1995
- 6. The Wildlife (Protection) Rules, 1995
- 7. Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992
- 8. The Wildlife (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules, 1983
- 9. The Wildlife (Stock Declaration) Central Rules, 1973
- 10. The Wildlife (Transaction and Taxidermy) Rules, 1973
The full texts can be found at http://moef.nic.in/division/wildlife
