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 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.
 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.
 HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS
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.
 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.

 PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS

Dealing in specified plants without license is prohibited.

The purchase of specified plants is permitted only from licensed

dealers.
 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.
 NATIONAL PARKS
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.
 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.
 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.