Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Salient Features, Schedules, Amendment

Wildlife Protection Act of India 1972 is a comprehensive legislation that provides for the conservation & protection of wildlife in India. Read all about Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in this article.

Last updated on May 26th, 2024 02:47 pm

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The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is a comprehensive law enacted to protect India’s wildlife and biodiversity. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 provides for the protection of wild animals and plants and regulates the hunting, trade, and commercial exploitation of wildlife. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 includes provisions for declaring protected areas and empowers the government to take measures to conserve and protect wildlife. It also provides for the establishment of the Wildlife Advisory Board to advise the government on wildlife-related matters.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, a number of illegal activities related to wildlife are prohibited. The act also provides for stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violation of its provisions. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 is widely considered to be one of the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world and has been instrumental in conserving India’s rich biodiversity and protecting its endangered species.

Salient Features of Wildlife Protection Act 1972

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has several key features that make it a comprehensive law for the protection and conservation of wildlife in the country. Some of the main features of the act are:

• Prohibition of Hunting: The act prohibits hunting of any wild animal specified in the schedules of the act unless the hunting is carried out under a valid licence.
• Establishment of Protected Areas: The act empowers the government to declare areas as any one of the following protected areas:

• A wildlife sanctuary is an area set aside for the protection and conservation of wildlife, where hunting and commercial exploitation of wildlife and its products is prohibited.

• A national park is an area set aside for the protection and conservation of wildlife, as well as for the enjoyment of the public.
• National parks are generally larger than wildlife sanctuaries and often allow some regulated use of natural resources, such as tourism and recreation.

• A conservation reserve is an area set aside for the protection and conservation of wildlife and is usually located outside protected areas.

• A community reserve is an area set aside for the protection and conservation of wildlife and is managed by local communities in partnership with the government.

• A tiger reserve is an area set aside for the protection and conservation of tigers and is managed by the government in partnership with local communities.

• Regulation of Trade and Commerce: The act regulates trade and commerce in wildlife and its products through a system of permits and licences.
• Penalties for Offences: The act provides for stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violation of its provisions, including illegal hunting, trade, and commercial exploitation of wildlife.
• Wildlife Advisory Board: The act provides for the establishment of the Wildlife Advisory Board to advise the government on wildlife-related matters.
• Protection of Endangered Species: The act includes provisions for the protection of endangered species, and empowers the government to take measures to conserve and protect them. Different levels of protection are mentioned in various schedules under the act.
• Power to Make Rules: The act gives the government the power to make rules for the implementation of the act, including rules for the regulation of trade and commerce in wildlife and its products.
• Seizure and Forfeiture of Property: The act provides for the seizure and forfeiture of property used in the commission of offences under the act, including the seizure of wildlife and its products.

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Schedules

Different wildlife species are accorded different levels of protection under various schedules under the act. The schedules are regularly reviewed and updated based on the latest scientific and conservation assessments. These include:

• Bengal Tiger
• Indian Rhinoceros
• Asiatic Lion
• Snow Leopard
• Blackbuck

• Indian Elephant
• Sloth Bear
• Nilgai
• Sambar
• Chausingha (Four-horned Antelope)

• Indian Peafowl
• Great Indian Bustard
• Himalayan Monal
• Sarus Crane
• Black-necked Stork

• Wild Boar
• Gray Langur
• Rhesus Macaque
• House Crow
• Common Myna

• Nilgai
• Sambar
• Wild Boar
• Chinkara
• Hare

• African Elephant
• Lion-tailed Macaque
• Gray Langur
• Common Mongoose
• Jungle Cat

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Amendment

The Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 has undergone several amendments since its original enactment in 1972. Some of the key amendments to the act include:

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 1991

• Provided stricter penalties for offences related to the illegal trade in wildlife and its products, and strengthened the provisions for the conservation and protection of wildlife.

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2002

• Further, strengthened the provisions of the act and provided for the creation of a new category of protected areas, known as community reserves, which are managed by local communities in partnership with the government.

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2006

• Provided for the creation of a new category of protected areas, known as conservation reserves, which are set aside for the protection and conservation of wildlife outside protected areas.

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2011

• It provided for the creation of a new category of protected areas, known as community reserves, which are managed by local communities in partnership with the government, and further strengthened the provisions of the act related to the protection and conservation of wildlife.

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Limitations

While the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 is a comprehensive piece of legislation, it also has some shortcomings. Some of the main limitations of the act are:

• Lack of Enforcement: Despite the stringent provisions of the act, enforcement has been weak, and illegal activities, such as hunting and trade in wildlife and its products, continue to occur.
• Limited Resources: The act lacks sufficient resources, including funding, personnel, and equipment, to effectively enforce its provisions and protect wildlife. This has made it difficult to fully implement the provisions of the act and to effectively conserve and protect wildlife.
• Conflicts with Other Laws: The act has faced challenges from conflicting laws and regulations, such as those related to land use and development, which have sometimes hindered the implementation of its provisions.
• Poaching and Habitat Destruction: Despite the provisions of the act, poaching and habitat destruction remain major threats to wildlife, and have contributed to the decline of populations of many species.
• Lack of Community Involvement: The act has limited provisions for community involvement in the conservation and protection of wildlife, which has been a critical factor in the success of wildlife conservation efforts in other countries.

It is important that these limitations are addressed to make this act more effective.

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 UPSC

In the UPSC CSE, questions on the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 may be asked in the General Studies prelims and mains exam. Questions on the act may test candidates’ knowledge of the provisions of the act, its schedules, the types of protected areas established under the act, the penalties provided under the act, and the role of the act in the conservation and protection of wildlife in India.

It is important for candidates to be well-versed with the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 and to have a comprehensive understanding of its role in the conservation and protection of wildlife in India, as this is an important topic for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.