WILDLIFE

PROTECTION
ACT, 1972

PRESENTATION BY:- MANYA

SHEFALI
DISHA
AAYUSH
 WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972
Protection against serious threats by expansion of
agriculture, industry as well as urbanization .

Hunting is prohibited except with permission of

authorized officer.

Blanket ban on carrying out any industrial

activity inside the protected areas.

Act went under many amendments to

introduce more rigid measures to strengthen
the act.
 THE BILL PROPOSES:-
𖦹 To highlight the ecological and environmental objective in the long title
of the Wildlife Act in order to extend its area.
𖦹 To add more definitions in view of amendments proposed in Wildlife
Act.
𖦹 To give statutory status to the National Board for Wildlife and re-
structuring of Wildlife Advisory Board by providing representation of all
concerned.
𖦹 To provide certain safeguards to stop killing of animals on pretest of
being dangerous to human life, agriculture, livestock's and property.
𖦹 Rationalize and expedite the process of final notification of sanctuaries
as well as national parks to safeguard the decline of biodiversity during
the intervening period between the first and final notification.
𖦹 To ban commercial sale of forest produce removed from National Parks
and Sanctuaries for better management of Wildlife.
WILDLIFE IN BRITISH PERIOD

WILDLIFE IN ANCIENT PERIOD

WILDLIFE AFTER INDEPENDENCE

 WILDLIFE IN
BRITISH PERIOD 
In this period there was a
significant destruction of forests
and wildlife due to expansion of
agriculture and industries. 
𖦹 Various act were passed
because of this :- 
 The elephants preservation
act , 1879
 Birds and animals protection
act , 1912
 Indian forest act , 1927
 WILDLIFE IN
ANCIENT PERIOD 
In ancient times different civilizations
had different attitudes and approaches
towards protecting wildlife. 
𖦹 Few examples are :- 
 Ancient Egypt – Nile crocodile was
protected by law 
 Ancient Greece – killing of hares
and deers was forbidden 
 Ancient Rome – wild boar was
protected 
 Ancient India – tigers and
elephants were protected 
 WILDLIFE AFTER
INDEPENDENCE 
After independence many
countries have taken steps to
protect endangered species
and habitats.
𖦹 Few examples are - 
 India – rhinos, elephants,
tigers
 Kenya – lions, elephants,
giraffes 
 United states – endangered
species act , 1973
 Australia – kangaroos, koala
 Territorial Jurisdiction of Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972
𖦹 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 has been accepted
and adopted by all the states except Jammu and
Kashmir.
𖦹
𖦹 This is the first comprehensive legislation relating
to protection of wildlife passed by the Parliament.
𖦹 It was assented by the President on 9th
September, 1972 and came to be known as the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
𖦹 It has 6 schedules which give varying degrees of
protection.

SOME TERMS USED UNDER THIS ACT:-

"Animal" includes amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles.
"Animal article" means any article made from any captive or
wild animal.
 Definition of wildlife
𖦹 The Section 2(37) of the Act defines wildlife as any animal,
bees, butterflies, crustacean, fish, moths; and aquatic or land
vegetation, which forms part of any habitat.
𖦹 So, it is inclusive of all kinds of flora and fauna.
 Authorities Constituted under
Wildlife (Protection) Act
 As per Section 3 of the Act, the Central Government may appoint:-
i. a Director of Wildlife Preservation
ii. Assistant Directors of Wildlife Preservation
iii. other officers and employees
 As per Section 4, the State Government may, for the purpose of this Act, appoint
:-
i. Chief Wildlife Warden
ii. Wildlife Warden
iii. Honorary Wildlife Wardens
iv. officers and employees
 subjected
Director
under
As per Section 6, the State central
govt.
Governments and the
Assistant director
Administrators in Union Territories
shall constitute a Wildlife Chief wildlife Under
Advisory Board. warden state
govt.

For each
Wildlife warden district

Other officers
Wildlife Advisory Board
𖦹 Section 6 of this Act enforces and enables the state
governments and the administrators of the Union
Territories to constitute a Wildlife Advisory Board in each
states and union territories.
Members of Wildlife Advisory Board
It shall consist of the Minister in charge of Forests in the State
or Union Territory as the Chairman.(If there is no such minister,
then the Chief Secretary will be the Chairman of the Board)
The other members are:-
𖦹 two members of the State Legislature or Legislature of Union
Territory, Secretary to the state government or the government of
the Union Territory,
𖦹 in charge of forests; the Forest Officer in charge of the State
Forest Department; an officer nominated by the Director of
Wildlife Preservation; Chief Wildlife Warden;
𖦹 officers of the state government not exceeding 5; and such
other persons, not exceeding 10, who in the opinion of the
state government, are interested in the protection of wildlife,
including the representatives of tribal not exceeding 3.
 DUTIES OF WILDLIFE ADVISORY BOARD
(SECTION 8)
 In selection of areas to be declared as
sanctuaries, national parks and closed
areas.

 Formulation of the policy for protection.

 In any matter relating to the amendment

of any schedule.
 Other matters connected with the
protection of the wildlife.
 HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS (SECTION 9)
 Section 9 prohibits hunting of any wild
animal under schedules 1,2,3 and 4.

 Any person who hunts any wild animal

shall be punishable with imprisonment,
fine or with both.

 A person shall be punished for

committing any offence in sanctuaries
and national parks.
 HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS TO BE
PERMITTED IN CERTAIN CASES
𖦹 1.If the Chief Wild Life 2. The Chief Wild Life Warden or
Warden is satisfied that any the authorized officer may, if he
wild animal specified in is satisfied that any wild animal
Schedule I has become specified in Schedule II,
dangerous to human life or is Schedule III, or Schedule IV,
so disabled, by order in has become dangerous to
writing and stating the human life or to property.
reasons therefor, permit any
person to hunt such animal
or cause such animal to be
hunted.
𖦹 The killing or wounding of any wild animal in
defense of oneself or of any other person
shall not be an offence: Provided that
nothing in this sub-section shall declare
innocent any person who, when such
defense becomes necessary, was
committing any act in violation of any
provision of this Act or any rule or order
made there under.

𖦹 Any wild animal killed or wounded in

defense of any person shall be Government
property.
 GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR HUNTING
FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

Such special purposes :- 3. Scientific management

1. Education; i) Translocation
2. Scientific research; ii) Population management
4. Collection of specimens 𖦹 5. Collection of snake-venom
for museums and
similar institution
Protection of specified
plants
Section 17A
Prohibition of picking, uprooting, etc., of specified plants

No person shall –

a) willfully pick, uproot, damage destroy, acquire or collect any specified

plant from
any forest land and area specified, by notification, by the Central
Government,

b) possess, sell, other for sale, or transfer by way of gift or otherwise, or

transport any specified plant, whether alive or dead, or part or derivative
thereof :
 Sanctuaries
𖦹 A Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or
features of geological or other interest, which is reserved and managed for 
conservation and to provide opportunities for study or research.
𖦹 The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for the establishment of Protected
Areas in India.[1]
𖦹 Sanctuaries as a protected area 
• Under Section 18, the State Government can declare a certain area
as a sanctuary, if it has adequate ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose
of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment. 
• Currently, there are 566 wildlife sanctuaries existing in India. 
• Recently, Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as the 52nd
wildlife sanctuary by the state government of Rajasthan and the 
National Tiger Conservation Authority (‘NTCA’). 
•  
The chief wildlife warden may, on an application, grant to any person a permit to enter or reside in
a sanctuary for the following purposes;

𖦹 Investigation or study of wildlife and any purpose ancillary or

incidental thereto;
𖦹 Photography
𖦹 Scientific research
𖦹 Tourism
𖦹 Transaction of lawful business with any person in the sanctuary
only a public servant on duty or permit holder or a person having a
right over immovable property within the limits of a sanctuary, person
passing through pathway in the sanctuary and dependents of the above
can enter in the sanctuary.
 National park
𖦹 What is a National Park?
• A national park is a relatively large area that contains one or more ecosystems
that have not been significantly altered by human exploitation and
occupation.
• A national park is defined as an area with sufficient ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance.
• A National Park, like a Sanctuary, is established for the purpose of protecting,
propagating, or developing wildlife or its environment.
• The primary distinction between a Sanctuary and a National Park is the
vesting of rights of those who live within.
• In contrast to a Sanctuary, where certain rights may be granted, no rights are
granted in a National Park.
• No livestock grazing shall be permitted within a National Park, while in a
Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control, or prohibit it.
Provisions for National Parks
𖦹 Declaration by State Government
• The State Government may, by notification, declare its intention to
establish a national park in any area within or outside of any reserve forest
if it believes that such area is of sufficient ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance for the purpose of
protecting, propagating, or developing wild life or its environment.

𖦹 Declaration by Central Government

• By notification, the Central Government may declare a national park if it is
satisfied that an area is of sufficient ecological, faunal, floral,
geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance for the purpose of
protecting, propagating, or developing wild life or its environment.
𖦹 Importance of National Parks
• Helps to perpetuate, manage the area through natural means. These are
examples of physiographic regions, biotic communities, genetic resources,
and natural processes that are unaltered.
• Contributes to the preservation of diverse species, regional ecological
processes, and migration routes.
• Keeps population viable and ecologically functional. .
• Helps manage visitor use so that it does not cause significant biological or
ecological degradation to natural resources for inspirational, educational,
cultural, and recreational purposes.
• It considers indigenous peoples' and local communities' needs, including
subsistence resource use.
• Contributes to local economies through tourism.
 CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY
𖦹 Central zoo authority consists of chairperson , ten
members and a member secretary. 
𖦹 They basically assess the functioning of zoos with
respect to the norms. 
𖦹  Identify endangered species of wild animals for
purpose of breeding. 
𖦹 Provide technical and other assistance to zoos for their
proper management.
𖦹 Co-ordinate research in breeding and educational
programmes for the purpose of zoos.
𖦹 Co-ordinate training of zoo personnel in India and
outside India.  
 𖦹 This act provides for the protection of
wild animals and plants and regulates
hunting and trade. 

PREVENTION 𖦹 This act also aims to prevent and

detect offences related to wildlife
AND protection.

DETECTION    BY VARIOUS MEASURES :-

 Prohibition on hunting and poaching 
OF  Regulation of trade
OFFENCES  Protection of habitats 
 Penalties and participation 
 In all this act provides
comprehensive framework for the
prevention and detection of
offences related to wildlife
protection , through a combination
of regulatory measures , penalties
and punishment and
establishment of agencies such as
wildlife crime and control bureau.  
 COGNIZANCE OF OFFENCE 
It refers to the authority of court to take notice of and initiate legal
proceedings against someone who has committed an offence under
the act. 

Section 55 of this act specifies that no court shall take cognizance of

any offence under the act except on a complaint made by any
authorities specified in the act. 

This also means that the court cannot take notice of an offence on its

own but can only do when a complaint is made by one of the
authorities or indivisuals. 
 PUNISHMENT 
𖦹 punishment for various offences under this act
depends on the severity of the offence. 
𖦹 The act provides for penalties ranging from a fine
of hundred rupees to imprisonment for
several years.

  For example :-
 Hunting killing or capturing any wild animal listed
in schedule 1 of the act can lead to imprisonment
for 3 to 7 years and can further extend and a fine of
Rs. 25000.
 The punishment for offence related to
destruction of wildlife habitats or use of
prohibited methods like hunting can lead
to imprisonment and fine.
 The punishment for offences such as
trading some parts or products can
lead to imprisonment of 3 to 7 years and
a fine ranging from Rs 10,000
to Rs 1,00,000.
    These penalties are severe to deter
people from engaging in        illegal
activities related to wildlife. 
QUESTIONS
1. When did wildlife protection act assented by the president??
A)November,1972 B)September,1972 C) October,1972 D)
December,1972
2. Wildlife protection act consists of ........ Schedules.
A)II B) IV C) VI D) VIII
3. This act has been accepted and adopted by all states except......
A)Rajasthan B) Odisha C) Jharkhand D) J&K
4. Central zoo authority consists of how many members?
A)8 members B)9 members C) 10 members D) 12 members
5.  Which section of Wildlife Protection Act deals with Prohibition of hunting?
A)Section 12 B) Section 9 C) Section 14 D) Section 20
6. Wildlife protection act consists of how many sections?
A) 66 B) 61 C) 6 D) 60
7. Permission of hunting of wild animals dangerous to human life can be granted
only by
A) conservator of forest B) Deputy conservator of forest
C)Chief wildlife warden D) Chief secretory of government
8. . Hunting of wild animals is punishable with imprisonment of
A) Over 1 year B) over 5 years C) over 10 years D) over 3
years
9. Which is the first national park of India ?
A) Kanha national park B) Dudhwa national park
C) Rajaji national park D) Corbett national park
10. Section 18 of wildlife protection act provides
A)Declaration of sanctuary B) Acquisition of rights
C) Control of sanctuaries D) Powers of collector
THANK YOU