Question : VIOLATION OF LAWS RELATING TO WILD LIFE

(a) Whether the number of cases including cases of killing of endangered species of animals involving violation of wildlife (Protection) Act, 1971 show an increasing trend in the country;

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) the number of such cases detected during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(d) the steps taken to improve the investigation and prosecution of wildlife offences; and

(e) the details of the prosecutions made during the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) to (e) The detection of offences under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and apprehension and prosecution of offenders involved in such offences in the States/Union Territories is mostly done by the concerned State/Union Territory Government. The details of such cases are not collated in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Ministry has not received any authentic report indicating an increasing trend in the number of wildlife offence cases in the country.

The Ministry has taken the following steps to improve the investigation and prosecution of wildlife offences:

(i) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended from time to time to strengthen its provisions relating to detection, investigation and prosecution of wildlife offence cases;

(ii) Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set-up under section 38Z of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, with, inter alia, the mandate to:

a. collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals and to establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank;

b. co-ordinate actions by various officers, State Governments and other authorities in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972;

c. assist concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international organizations to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control; and

d. develop infrastructure and capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes.

(iii) Financial assistance is provided to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of ”Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”, “Project Elephant” and “Project Tiger” for undertaking activities for strengthening of protection mechanisms against poaching of wild animals, along with other activities for conservation and management of wild animals and their habitats.