(a) whether giving of diplomatic gifts of precious and endangered wildlife to other countries has been on the rise.
(b) if so, the number of such gifts given to other countries and also received from them during the last three years indicating
the names of protected/endangered animals and countries ;
(c) the rationale behind such a policy/practice; and
(d) the steps proposed to remedy the situation?
THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND
FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a) to (d) India has from time to time been giving diplomatic gifts
to wild animals to foreign countries as goodwill
gesture.The main purpose of such gifts is bringing education and
awareness about the wild animals of India among the
people of recipient country.International Union for Conservation of
Nature also recognizes the inevitability of such gifts
and has issued detailed guidelines on the subject, which are strictly
adhered to. Gifting wild animals does not affect the
conservation of the species as no animal is captured from the wild for the purpose of diplomatic gift. Even rescued animals
from wild, received in zoos are treated as invaluable genetic resources
and not allowed for export/gift. Captive animals of
rare category are also not given as diplomatic gift.The details of wild
animals given and received as diplomatic gift by
Government of India during last 3 years are as below: -
Sl. No.Year of Name of the Name of the Animal Given Recipient approval Dignitary who Donor Zoo (Male:Female) Zoo and presented Country Diplomatic Gift 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. 1998-1999 President of India Nandankanan Elephant (0:1) Lzmir Zoo, Turkey Zoo,Bhubaneswar, Orissa
2 1999-2000 Defense Minister, National Zoological Elephant (0:1) Uneo Zoo, Japan Govt. of India Park Assam State Ministry of External Zoo, Guwahati Peafowls (2:2) National Zoo, Dhaka
Affairs,Govt. of India
3. 2000-2001Ministry of External M.C. Zoological Bengal Tiger(1:1)Tripoli Zoo, Libya Affairs,Govt.of India Park, Chhatbir, Punjab
Sl. No. Year of Name of the foreign Animals given Name of Indian Zoo approval Zoo/Foreign Dignitary the Recipient
1. 1998-1999 President of Zimbabwe African Elephant(1:1)Delhi Zoo