The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Objectives:

• Prevent the hunting of wild animals and various species of birds and punish the violators of rules and regulations.
• Protect the endangered species.
• Provide shelter and protection to the wild flora and fauna. Ban trade and commerce of certain protected species.
• Preserve the diversity of flora and fauna of the country and maintain a healthy ecological balance.

Constitutional Provisions for the Wildlife Act 

• Article 48A of the Constitution of India directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard wildlife and forests.
•  Article 51A imposes fundamental duties to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Schedules of The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:

• Schedule I 
  • Specifies endangered species which need rigorous and absolute protection.
  • Species under this Schedule are prohibited to be hunted and traded throughout India, except under threat to human life.
  • Examples: Blackbuck, Indian lion, Tiger, Whale shark, sea horse

• Schedule II
  • • Specifies species which need high protection.
    • Trade prohibited, cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.
    • Examples: Assamese macaque, salamander, beetles, civets, otters, Indian cobras, king cobra, mongooses
• Schedule III 

• • • Specifies species which are not endangered and include protected species.
    •  Penalty for violators is less compared to Schedules I and II.
    • Examples: Barking deer, hyena, Nilgai, wild pig
• Schedule IV 

• • Specifies species which are not endangered and include protected species.
  • Examples: Hares, Indian porcupine, birds like cranes, cuckoos etc

CITES:

• CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• Under CITES, plant and animal specimens are classified into three categories (Appendices) based on the threat to their extinction.
• The Convention requires countries to regulate the trade of all listed specimens through permits.
• It also seeks to regulate the possession of live animal specimens.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 seeks to implement these provisions of CITES.

Invasive Alien Species:

• Invasive Alien Species refers to plant or animal species which are not native to India and whose introduction may adversely impact wildlife or its habitat.
• The Central government may authorise an officer to seize and dispose of the invasive species.