(a) whether the Government has reviewed the issue of indiscriminate hunting of wild animals during the lockdown period;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the number of leopards has drastically reduced due to rise in incidents of hunting;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to check hunting of wild animals across the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) and (b) Management of forest and wildlife including the issue of indiscriminate hunting of wild animals is the responsibility of concerned State Governments and the details of hunting of wild animals are not collated by the Ministry. There is no report in the Ministry that indiscriminate hunting of wild animals took place during the lockdown period.
(c) and (d) There is no report in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change indicating rise in incidents of hunting of leopards and drastic reduction in their numbers.
(e) The steps being taken by the Government to check hunting of wild animals across the country are as follows:
i. The local communities are involved in conservation measures through eco-development activities who help the forest department in protection of wildlife.
ii. Rare and endangered species found in India, like Tiger, Snow Leopard, Great Indian Bustard, Gangetic Dolphin, Dugong, etc. have been listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby providing them highest degree of protection.
iii. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for stringent punishment for violation of its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
iv. WCCB coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
v. WCCB conducted 109 and 153 joint operations in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively to apprehend criminals involved in smuggling.
vi. WCCB conducted capacity building programs for Forests & Police Officials on investigation of Wildlife cases under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as follows:
Year No of programs Officials trained
2017-18 20 1092
2018-19 26 1081
2019-20 24 1102
vii. WCCB conducted sensitization programs for the officials of Border Guarding Forces, Customs, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Judicial officers and other stake holders as follows:
Year No of programs No. of officials sensitized
2017-18 77 4097
2018-19 69 4939
2019-20 97 7692
viii. WCCB conducted sensitization of representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and awareness programs for students and members of public on the importance of wildlife and their role to combat wildlife crime as follows:
Year No of programs No. of representatives of PRIs/students/members of public sensitized
2017-18 36 2452
2018-19 31 2323
2019-20 33 1906
ix. WCCB issued alerts and advisories on poaching and illegal trade of wildlife to the concerned State and Central agencies for preventive action as follows:
Year Alerts and advisories issued
2017-18 86
2018-19 124
2019-20 103
x. Advisory on prevention of hunting of Pangolin and the illegal trade of Pangolin Scales was issued by WCCB in 2018.
xi. Organized Inter-Agency meetings for coordination of inter-agency enforcement efforts in combating wildlife crime. 10 IAC meetings were organized in 2017-18, 9 in 2018-19 and 7 have been conducted in 2019-20.
xii. The Ministry has issued “Advisory for Dealing with Import of Exotic Live Species in India and Declaration of Stock”.
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