Wildlife Conservation and Management Assignment

Wildlife Laws and Policy

ANUPAM BHENGRA

Introduction India is home to very diverse and rich wildlife which includes over 172 endangered species. A great deal of effort has been made in the last sixty years to preserve the natural habitats as well as the population of the wildlife across the Indian landscape. The Bengal tiger, Asiatic water buffalo and Indian elephant are just some of the magnificent animals walking the plains and tropical rain forest across India. It is amazing to see the herds migrate from jungle to jungle in order to sustain their population in a good and natural habitat. With the encroachment of human activities on these lands, the natural habitat has been destroyed and has shrunk considerably. This has endangered not only the smaller avian, reptile and mammals population but also eroded endemic flora and fauna. Need for Protection of wildlife In this beautiful planet "EARTH", it is the duty of the human to maintain the ecosystem. But this does not give the power to rule over other living beings. We all know that, living beings are composed of living matters and these are sensitive. For example, we are sensitive to touch, we can smell, distinguish colors. Just think about this. No one in this world likes to suffer the pain. It is also the case of animals and other living creatures. They all need to stay alive and have to taste the "FREEDOM". If we are put in a cage, and do not have freedom, what will be our feeling. We will be surely pained. This is same to all living creatures. They also suffer pain, in some situations they are suffered more what we suffer. So all the living creatures are to be looked and carefully maintained. This is the duty of the Humans. Humans are special creatures. They can think, have more complex body design, have four hampered heart, can speak, can cry out when pained, may have revenge etc.. Human brain is the most powerful weapon. The technology, which is brought up by human brain, should also work for other living creatures. Hunting, poaching etc. reduced the number of animals. Some are extinct due to human activities. Over 81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 species of flora are found in India so far. Of the estimated 47,000 plant species, about 15,000 flowering species are endemic to India. Some estimates suggest that at least 10 per cent of India's recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list. Some of them are Cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet and plants like Madhuca insignis and Hubbardia heptaneuron. This beautiful planet should be protected. The species which are at verge of extinction should be carefully preserved and the deforestation level should be reduced to some extent. Let us have a look at these problems about this. Save Animals and Wild creatures Building National sanctuaries, Wildlife Conservation Parks and small parks are good responses to this evil issue. But to ensure a good healthy ecosystem, some other factors are also need to be over-looked.

First of all, the officials should ensure that proper sanitation is made for the animals. Many Wildlife sanctuaries and other Parks fail in this. Anyway, this is the base of any Parks. Proper food has to be given to the animals. And also they need to ensure that healthy food is given. Another thing is that, when this food is given. If they are given at proper intervals, the animals will feel good and will be active. If the respective officials fail in this, the animals will be haunted by deadly diseases, because for any creature it is necessary to consume food to be well. Think when we do not eat food for 1 day. Our health level will be decreased and the immunity will also be reduced. This is same to animals also. Further, if no healthy food is provided, the organs will be attacked by micro-organisms easily as in the case of human. In a zoo, for example, there will be a flow of people. If the animals are attacked by the diseases, surely these will be also affected in human. The cages which the animals are kept should be kept clean as sometimes the people will catch these cages or they will just touch. The cages should be anodized so that corrosion will not take place. If the cages are corroded, they should be cleaned at any cost. The life of the people should also be safeguarded. The cages of the animals should be locked tightly. These are good responses but how we can ensure FREEDOM for these innocent creatures. National Sanctuaries ensure protection to these animals but some of the greedy natured people try to haunt the animals for their well-being. Generally, these national sanctuaries are in large area and to safeguard the entire place, it will be too difficult and dangerous. So caring some areas cannot be overlooked. In case of protected forests, the animals ensure freedom but not protection. In this ecosystem one should depend upon other animals for their survival only. This is the only common habit for these animals. Food is necessary. The food should be in taken to carry out various inter cellular functions. If they failed in this process, they would die. So those animals which belong to these kinds of forests should be able to get preys. These preys are those animals which belong to these forests. This dependence of animals in the ecosystem is necessary for the ecological balance. Generally this ecosystem is comprised of various tropic levels. The plants are the primary producers of energy. This is consumed by various animals. Then comes the omnivores and the herbivores animals. So this inter-linked relationship between animals in this FOOD CHAIN is very necessary for the good of the ecosystem. If plants are numbered low, the primary consumers will get low energy. In a food chain, moving from previous to successive levels, the energy that gets for each successive levels will be get reduced. We, the humans occupy the top position of the food chain thus get low energy. So if we do not conserve forest and wildlife the energy that we get will be lessened. The next problem is that of the oxygen intake. The trees are the group which gives out oxygen. Think, if the number is reduced. The trees also help in bringing rain. So reducing in their number shows of increasing the global temperature and ecological instability. We need to protect these trees. But people all are forgetting these kinds of basic concepts. Our mind all are consumed in the necessity of profits. Cutting of trees is necessary but with this phenomenon there should be afforestation. Not only deforestation should be fostered, but

afforestation should be also. With cutting of trees, there should be planting of trees. If these living beings are not protected then the stability of humans will be also in danger. All the living beings in this ecosystem are mutually dependable. So, we should try our level best to conserve our wildlife and forest for our and common good. The future is in our hand. Once done, it is difficult to undo. Now we have to take initiative. This type of doings should be terminated immediately. Save our Earth. That should be our agenda. Many communities still are engaged in the wildlife protection. Those living in the forest areas take care of their habitat. They will not do anything bad to the forest, except little deforestation. But often the government officials are trying to get rid of them from these places. Then they will be involved in the deforestation system. Many communities still worship some animals and consider them as followers of their God. The tribal people depend upon forest produce. If they are barred in entering these forests, their habitat would be destroyed. Establishment Of A Wildlife Protection Network Across India Wildlife in India is considered sacred to the culture and heritage of the country. A great deal of effort has been made in collaboration with international environmental protection and wildlife conservation organizations to ensure the safety of the natural habitat of Indian wildlife. Unfortunately agricultural land has been given the priority and the natural habitat has been eroded to make way for human occupation. As human encroachment and settlement increased across the Indian landscape, the wildlife was cornered in specific areas. These were eventually declared as protected and endangered areas. Once this status was awarded to a particular area or breed of animal or species of bird, a great deal of effort was maintained to prevent the poaching and hunting of wildlife. This helped in increasing the awareness and subsequently the population of endangered and exotic species. Creation and Development of Wildlife Reserves across India There are quite a few sanctuaries, for example the ones in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Goa and Madhya Pradesh among others. A good thing about the network of Wildlife Protection in India is that there is one basic administration that runs the Forestry and Wildlife Department. It has different subsets in each state and the Central Government acts as the main advisory to each of these divisions. The creation of the Wildlife Protection Act has made it mandatory for each union territory to have wildlife advisory boards. Furthermore, with the addition of wildlife preservation in the Constitution the situation has greatly improved in terms of safeguarding wildlife populations across India. With the use of information and experience of international wildlife protection agencies like the World Wildlife Federation which has placed 172 species on the endangered animal list in India, the

total number of national parks and sanctuaries has risen from 5 parks to 69 national parks. Further, the number of sanctuaries has increased from 60 to more than 410 parks in the last decade. Another interesting fact about the sanctuaries and parks for conserving wildlife in India is that they are distributed throughout the Indian landscape and even on some islands. The biodiversity in India is spread across plains and mountains along with the plateaus and coastal areas. Each of these areas has been given full attention and therefore resulted in the creation of safe havens for aquatic and land populations of endangered species across India. From crocodiles to Tigers and elephants to peacocks there are many species which are protected under the national conservation projects across the country. Wildlife laws Wildlife laws in India can be traced back to early third century BC, when Ashoka, the Emperor, codified a law for the preservation of wildlife and environment. Thereafter came several laws among which, the first codified law was the Wild Bird Protection Act, 1887, enacted by the British Government. The Government of India brought for the first time a comprehensive act, the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, which was later amended and changes were brought in as the need arose. Furthermore, to protect the wildlife, the Government of India also became a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since October, 1976. Besides WPA and CITES; the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C), 1973; Customs Act, 1962; Indian Forest Act, 1927; Forest Conservation Act, 1981; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 are some of the important weapons available for check and control of wildlife offences including trade. Wild Life Protection Act (WPA), 1972 provides for the protection of Wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The act includes all animals like birds, mammals etc. While the act clearly defines hunting it also prohibits the usage, supply etc. of animal articles, Animal article means an article made from any captive animal or wild animal, other than vermin, and includes an article or object in which the whole or any part of such animal has been used and ivory imported into India. Section 9 of the Act prohibits hunting of wild animals and birds specified in Schedule I, II, and III and IV, except as provided under Sections XI and XII. This classification has been made keeping in mind the significance and population of wildlife. Those highly threatened find a place in Schedule I. As of punishment for offences, Section 51 of the Act prescribes a maximum imprisonment of six years, Rs 25,000 fine or both for hunting animals and birds specified on Schedule I.

Case Studies with respect to Wild Life Protection: Shahtoosh caseThe Shahtoosh wool is derived from the soft undercoat of the Tibetan Antelope (also known as Chiru), which has to be killed before its fleece is removed. Three to four Chiru have to be killed to weave only one shawl. Each shawl can cost several thousand dollars in the international market. In 1977, the Government of India declared the Chiru as protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972. Killing of Chiru is also in contravention to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), of which India is also a signatory as mentioned earlier. A PIL or Public Interest Litigation was filed in the J&K High Court seeking implementation of the provisions of their Wildlife (Protection) Act as well as CITES which prohibits the import of Shahtoosh into India. On May 1, 2000, the Honorable High Court issued a judgment forcing the government to enact and enforce its wildlife law. Finally in 2002 the manufacture of Shahtoosh shawls has finally been banned in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Project TigerProject Tiger, an initiative by the Government, launched on April 1, 1973, has become one of the most successful conservation ventures in modern history. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted tiger reserves which are representative of various bio-geographical regions falling within India. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in their natural environment. Today, there are 27 Project Tiger wildlife reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 km. A 2008 census held by Government of India revealed that the tiger population had dropped to 1,411. Since then the government has pledged US$153 million to further fund the project, set-up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers, and fund the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-tiger interaction. Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection in India.

CONCLUSION Protection of Wildlife alone is not possible only by laws and Government. Despite all of these laws and efforts, destruction of wildlife, illegal trade and poaching continues. Active cooperation from the common public is also very necessary. It is now high time for us to understand the gravity of

the situation and act on its behalf. And this can only be achieved by our awareness and by further stringent laws by the Government. We must not lose the national treasures in our rat race of urbanization and modernization.