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, except Jammu and Kashmir.

It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection.

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

• “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.

AUTHORITIES APPOINTED UNDER THE ACT 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 :-I. A Chief Wild Life Warden.II. Wild Life Wardens.• One Honorary Wild Life Warden in each district

III. Other officers and employees as may be necessary.

WILD LIFE ADVISORY BOARDThe 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.

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.

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

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

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.

Dealing in specified plants without license is prohibited.

The purchase of specified plants is permitted only from licensed dealers.

PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS

SANCTUARIES, NATIONAL PARKS AND CLOSED AREAS

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.

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

CLOSED AREASThe 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.

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.

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.