Wildlife Protection Act 1972

India can be identified as a home of different species of plants and animals. Before 1972, there were only five “national parks” in India. These national forests were infected with different species of animals and birds. In addition to that, a diverse set of plants could be recognized in these parks. Animal hunting and other illegal activities such as the deliberate and indiscriminate cutting of trees resulted in the gradual depletion of the plants and animals in these forests. These activities were referred to as “illegitimate” and several disciplinary measures were conceived to ensure the freedom and safety of the animals after the enforcement of this act.

Wildlife and Environmental Ecosystem

An environmental ecosystem or ecology can be referred to as an environmental scenario where animals and plants representing different species live and mutually contribute for survival purposes. Wildlife is one of the important pillars to maintain the ecological balance. Wildlife results in the superior functionality of the ecosystem. When the number of animals representing different species declines dramatically, the ecology is impacted negatively. The rule of law was vehemently required for curbing the outlaws from hunting animals relentlessly and creating an ecological imbalance. 

The Wildlife protection act 1972

In 1972, the wildlife protection act was passed in the Parliament of India. This act was instrumental for the safety and security of the entire wildlife that fall prey to the relentless activities of the outlaws. The wildlife of the five national parks was greatly benefitted after the enactment of this law. The law contains six different segments which elaborate the provisions of law enforcement scenarios. The first section and the second part of the second section enunciate ultimate protection. Offenders found guilty under these provisions are determined to get the highest punishment. Section III and Section IV represents a diverse number of species also have a provision for punishment for the outlaws but the degree, in this case, can be identified as moderate. The section V of this law has elucidated that animals such as crows, rats, and bats can be hunted freely. In section VI, the endangered plants have been addressed and their indiscriminate cutting has been considered a brutal offense that can lead to a prolonged penalty. In addition to that, the provision of exorbitant penalty charges or fines has also been incorporated herein this act. Several allegations about this law have been noticed especially in the case of tiger and elephant hunting now. 

The effect of the Wildlife Protection act 

There was a spurt of several barbaric practices such as poaching and hunting related to the wildlife of the different national parks. After the enforcement of this law, the offenses against animals and plants can be witnessed to diminish to a significant level. The case of undesired occurrences has gone down for averting the predicaments associated with the penalty provisions under the law from the perspective of the offenders. This law also clearly enunciates that hunting wild animals in any form is strictly prohibited in India. The provision of stupendous penalty charges was quite successful in inculcating a sense of fear in the outlaws as it involves significant financial loss along with lingering imprisonment terms. In addition to that, the number of wild animals and plants increased as a result of a reduction in several barbaric activities. Therefore, the enhancement of different wildlife species can be noticed. This law also incorporated special provisions for the endangered species which significantly assisted in enhancing their number to a considerable extent. The strict rules in terms of the plants in the forests have resisted deforestation. This helps to maintain the ecological balance with a maximum number of plants ensuring fresh oxygenated air which is quite important for the survival of the entire humankind. Therefore, it can be asserted that the law is instrumental in preserving wildlife in a meaningful way. 

Drawbacks of the Wildlife protection act

Although this act was remarkable in preserving the interests of the wildlife, it lacked stringency to a significant level. The loopholes of this law were vehemently used by the outlaws to do whatever they wanted ranging from the indiscriminate cutting of trees to relentless hunting of the wild animals. The penalty charges in this regard seem to be inconsequential to the poachers and outlaws. These charges were needed to set a colossal figure to intimidate the outlaws. The sections of this law are needed to be more definitive and precise for the successful implementation. The imprisonment terms associated with the law in the case of any wildlife-related offense were found to be moderate and the outlaws seem to have no respect for it. This results in the ultimate failure of this law for lacking required stringency in it. Hence, it was once again modified and restructured in the year 2002 for putting a leash on the illegal activities associated with poaching. 

Conclusion 

The wildlife protection act 1972 was the initial step towards ensuring the safety and freedom of the different wildlife species in the national park and other wildlife-infested sites. The law was quite important to put a leash on several illegitimate activities which were practiced in an open and free way previously. After the enactment of this law, the number of illegal activities came down to a lower extent. Although several loopholes exist in this law, they can be identified to serve a meaningful purpose for the preservation of the wildlife in India.