Under the Section 2(37) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, animals and plants that are found in

the wild are included in the definition of wildlife. These ecosystems would also include those found
in the ocean, freshwater, and coastal regions.

Wild Animal as per Section 2 (36) includes any animal that is given in Schedules I to IV of the Act and
is wild in nature.

What are the reasons for wildlife trading?

Food;

Fuel;

Fodder;

Handicrafts;

Healthcare;

Ornaments;

Pet;

Timber.

Non-governmental organisations working for wildlife protection

CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild animals and plants aka CITES,
is an international agreement that was drafted after a resolution at a meeting of IUCN (International
Union for Conservation of Nature) in 1963. It came into force in July 1975.

This convention ensures that the international trading of wildlife does not prove harmful to the
survival of the species. It establishes a framework that must be adhered to by each party, which must
adopt its own domestic laws to guarantee that CITES is implemented at the national level.

WWF India

WWF-India is the country’s largest non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of

biodiversity and natural environments. It works with a wide range of stakeholders, including local
communities, teachers and students, state and federal governments, industry, and civil society
organizations, to ensure that future generations will have a healthy world. WWF-India implements its
goal and operations through a network of state and field offices scattered throughout the country.
The Secretariat is based in New Delhi, and the organization is part of the WWF’s international
network, with its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.

PETA India
Founded in January 2000, PETA India is a non-profit animal welfare organization. It aims to educate
politicians and the public about animal abuse and promote a better understanding of the right of all
animals to be treated with respect.

PETA India focuses on the areas where animals suffer the most: laboratories, the food industry, the
leather trade, and the entertainment industry. PETA India’s investigations, public education
campaigns, research, animal rescues, legislative advocacy, special events, celebrity involvement, and
national media coverage have resulted in innumerable changes to the quality of life for animals and
have saved countless lives.

TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC is a worldwide network that includes TRAFFIC International, based in Cambridge, UK, and
offices on five continents, seven regional programs in 25 nations and territories, and ongoing
research and activities in dozens of others.

Since its establishment in 1976, TRAFFIC has evolved to become the world’s largest wildlife trade
monitoring organization and a global expert on wildlife trafficking concerns. TRAFFIC actively
monitors and investigates wildlife trade, and delivers its findings to a diversified audience worldwide
as a basis for effective conservation policies and activities.

As part of its mission, TRAFFIC India is actively involved in wildlife trade-related issues in India and
the South Asian region. This includes providing policy inputs, supporting and strengthening field
enforcement, and improving capacity across multiple levels and organizations to handle wildlife
trade-related issues.

Government Agencies contributing to wildlife crime enforcement

Directorate of Wildlife Preservation: It works on national policies and legislations that are related to
the issues on wildlife.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau: A federal agency on enforcement and regulation of wildlife crime and
has multi-agency representation.

State Forest Departments: It is responsible for the management of enforcement of forest and wildlife
resources within respective states.

State Police Departments: It works on the enforcement and the investigation of crimes within
respective states.

Central Bureau of Investigation: This agency is entrusted with the investigation of criminal cases. It is
also the nodal agency of Interpol in India.

Indian Customs: This body regulates trading across international borders.

Department of Revenue Intelligence: It is a federal agency that works on the collection of intelligence
about the smuggling of contraband goods, narcotics, under-invoicing, over-invoicing, etc. With the
help of its sources in India and abroad, it analyzes and disseminates such intelligence to the field
formations for action.

Indian Army: Indian Army is present along with remote border areas of the country and helps in
monitoring transborder activities.

Paramilitary including Coast Guard, ITBP, SSB, BSF, CISF, etc.: They are present on all international
borders, airports, seaports, etc., to monitor trans-border activities.

Directorate of Forensic Sciences: A premier federal agency on forensics that provides specialized
support to enforcement agencies.

State Forensic Directorates

Wildlife Institute of India (WII): In order to implement the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, WII was
established with the primary objective of developing and standardizing techniques for identifying the
species of varied wildlife parts reported in wildlife trade and providing support to various
enforcement agencies such as the Forest Department, Police Department, CBI, DRI, Courts,
Government of India, and Customs.

Zoological Survey of India

Botanical Survey of India

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

Laws regulating wildlife trading in India

The following Acts have an important bearing on the enforcement of wildlife in India:

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

The Indian Forest Act, 1927

The Forest Conservation Act,1980

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

The Criminal Procedure Code, 1974

The Indian Penal Code, 1860

The Arms Act, 1959

The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992: India, at present, governs all the Exports
and Imports, including that of wildlife under the EXIM Policy that was formulated under this act.

The Customs Act, 1962: Custom Violation in export and import is regulated under and is punishable
under this Act.
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002: As per the amendment of 2009, hunting of wild
animals is constituted as an offense.

Wildlife offenses in India

The following acts constitute a crime against wildlife in India and are punishable offenses as per the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, (1972).

As per Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, any illegal hunting or killing of any species is
stated under the schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, or even the slightest attempt to do
so.

Under Section 27 and Section 35(8), causing harm or destruction to any National park or Sanctuary is
punishable.

Illegal possession of wild animals and/or their derivatives require signed authorization from the Chief
Wildlife Warden to keep all “animal articles, trophy or uncured trophy” that are produced from
animals stated listed in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II as well as salted and dried skin of any such
animal, as well as the musk from musk deer or rhino horns. Such possession, even if it predates the
CITES treaty or Indian law, is prohibited without a certificate of ownership from the Chief Wildlife
Warden.

Section 40(2), 43, 44, 49, 49 B prohibits the domestic or foreign commerce of specified species or
their derivatives.

Entrance into a national park or wildlife refuge without authorization as given under Section 27, 35
(8).

Invasion of a national park or wildlife sanctuary with a weapon according to Section 31, 35(8).

Arson and the use of harmful chemicals within a sanctuary, a national park, or a Conservation
reserve as per Sections 30, 32, 35(8), 36 A(2), 36C(2), 38V(2).

The act of mocking or assaulting animals in a zoo, or causing disruption or littering is punishable
according to Section 38J.

National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017-2031

The Third National Action Plan on Wildlife for 2017-2031 was published by India to outline the future
Wildlife Conservation Road Map. The plan was first introduced in 1983, and then in 2002 to 2016,
the third action plan follows on from the first. The third National Plan of Action on Wildlife is special
because it is for the first time that India has acknowledged its worries about climate change in
wildlife and emphasises the integration of measures to mitigate it and adapt to wildlife planning.

On the launch day of the Global Wildlife Program (GWP), environmental Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
revealed the strategy. The GWP, which was started in 2015, is a World Bank partnership leading 19
nations to promote sustainability and conservation through fighting wildlife trafficking. Within the
four-day conference, India will be able to learn about best practises in wildlife habitat management
and minimise conflicts between people and animals.
The proposal was launched by the Environment Department in February 2016. This proposal was
developed by a committee of 12 members chaired by former Minister JC Kala. The GWP, which was
started in 2015, is a World Bank partnership leading 19 nations to promote sustainability and
conservation through fighting wildlife trafficking. Within the four-day conference, India learned
about best practises in wildlife habitat management and minimised conflicts between people and
animals.

The proposal for Third National Action Plan on Wildlife for 2017-2031 was launched by the
Environment Department in February 2016. This proposal was developed by a committee of 12
members chaired by former Minister JC Kala. In the conservation of all animals – uncultivated flora
and fauna – which have ecological significance for the ecosystem and humanity, regardless of where
they occur, the Plan employs a “landscape approach.” It emphasises the recovery of endangered
wildlife species while maintaining their ecosystems.

The state has also stressed the business sector’s increasing participation in the conservation of
wildlife. The strategy provides for enough and continuous funding to be made available for the
implementation of the National Wildlife Action Plan, including corporate social responsibility
resources.