WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

The Great Indian Bustard: Once in the race to become national bird,
now struggling for existence
Locally called ‘godawan’, the great Indian bustard (GIB) has been categorised as critically endangered by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The bird, which once inhabited 12 states, is wiped out from 90% of its former
habitat and is confined to three small pockets: Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, the grasslands of Kutch in Gujarat and the trijunction
of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
08 Oct, 2022, 11.28 PM IST
Explain Wildlife and its Importance.

Ans. Wildlife refers to living creatures that are neither domesticated/tamed nor

bred, including animals, plants, and micro-organisms found in natural habitats.
In balancing the ecosystem, wildlife plays an important role. Wildlife provides the
various processes in nature with stability. For emotional and social purposes,
biodiversity and nature have been largely correlated with humans. To establish
ecological equilibrium on earth, we are also a part of biodiversity. In order to
preserve the balance of nature, wildlife helps. 

wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and

animal species and their habitats. As part of the
world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to
nature’s processes. The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure
the survival of these species, and to educate people on living
sustainably with other species.

THE WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972

ACT NO. 53 OF 1972
 [9th September, 1972.]
1
[An Act to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected
therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental
security of the country.]

2
* * * *Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India:

Conservation protects the natural diversity of water, air, and soil and our
life support systems. It also protects plant and animal genetic diversity for
better species and breeding development. In 1972, the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act was passed, with various habitat protection provisions. A
list of protected species was also released for all of India. The geographical
condition of India and various climatic features have endowed the country
with a large range of biological communities. Neither forest policy nor
forest laws paid much respect to wildlife in the early years of forest
conservation. The wildlife was 'game' and abundant. At the cost of
community forests, the food crisis of the Second World War gave rise to
an expansion of agriculture. Land allocation gained an extra social hue
with independence-land for the landless-and even reserve forests were
not spared. If it had not been for the activities of some ardent friends of
wildlife, the scope of destruction would have been much greater.

Project Tiger: 

Tiger is one of the major species of wildlife in the network of fauna. The
authorities realized that, at the turn of the century, the tiger population
had declined to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000. In 1973, Project Tiger,
one of the world's well-publicized wildlife projects, was launched. Tiger
conservation has not only been seen as an attempt to protect tigers. Save
a species that is endangered, but with equal meaning as a way of retaining
biotypes of major magnitude. The goal of forest cover in India is to cross
33 percent of the land area, but in terms of biodiversity and wildlife
protection, forests within the Protected Areas have unique significance.
Years ago, a report on Indian tiger reserves by the Zoological Survey of
India showed how tiger reserves have contributed to the country's efforts
to preserve biological diversity by protecting keystone species and forests.
It should be noted that 70% of the world's biodiversity has been reported
so far from the forested region.

To conserve the ecological diversity and the water, soil, and air that are
the life support systems, conservation is important. In 1972, the Indian
Wildlife (Protection) Act was enacted with various habitat protection
provisions and an all-India list of protected species was issued. Several
initiatives for the conservation of specific animals were also declared by
the central government and were seriously threatened.
We are protecting wildlife.
Our Wildlife work aims to discover, understand, and conserve individual
species or genera of animals, plants, or other forms of life. Across topics like
ethology, population biology, evolutionary biology, conservation technology,
species conservation, and related fields — our goal is to inspire and empower
local and global audiences to better understand and protect them.

EXPLORE THE ARK

IN THE FIELD

Our Wildlife Explorers

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in

India:

Conservation protects the natural

diversity of water, air, and soil and our
life support systems. It also protects
plant and animal genetic diversity for
better species and breeding
development. In 1972, the Indian
Wildlife (Protection) Act was passed,
with various habitat protection
provisions. A list of protected species
was also released for all of India. The
geographical condition of India and
various climatic features have
endowed the country with a large
range of biological communities.
Neither forest policy nor forest laws
 paid much respect to wildlife in the
early years of forest conservation. The
wildlife was 'game' and abundant. At
the cost of community forests
Jane Goodall: Championing
animal conservation for six decades
Rae Wynn-Grant: Finding
harmony for humans and bears

Making a
difference
Our work is not only about
restoring wildlife, it’s about
restoring people’s lives. Through
science, conservation, and
community engagement, we can
create a virtuous cycle that
allows people and animals to
thrive.”

Help us protect
Inspire the next generation to save our wildlife
Explore wildlife in our Resource Library. We've made available for educators and
learners lessons, articles, maps, videos, and so much more, to inspire our mission to
illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.

Support our work

We have a duty to protect our Earth's precious wildlife. By helping

people understand wildlife, we believe they will form deeper emotional
connections to our planet's species. Will you help protect
the wonder of our world?
 e and protect our planet.

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