A Project on

Wildlife Conservation in India: An Overview

PROJECT SUBMITTED TO:

(FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT LAW)

PROJECT SUBMITTED BY:

ROLL NO.

SUBMITTED ON:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude towards my course
teacher, , for giving me constant guidance and encouragement throughout the course of the project.
I would also like to thank the University for providing me the internet and library facilities which
were indispensable for getting relevant content on the subject, as well as subscriptions to online
databases and journals, which were instrumental in writing relevant text.
Special thanks goes out to my seniors who have been relentless in their help and supporting
providing any material whenever required and my colleagues, who always stood by me,
irrespective of the decisions taken by me. Without their support this project would not have seen
the light of the day.

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 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & OBJECTIVES

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Method:
This project has been made by employing Doctrinal method of Research, and by using secondary
sources of information, mainly articles from different law journals and working papers available
online.
Sources:
Majority articles were downloaded from SSRN (Social Science Research Network) and Hien
online accessible by university online library.

OBJECTIVES:

Objectives of the project can be summed up as follows:- 1. To

understand the concept of Wildlife Conservation in India.
2. To analyze the different government programes for Wildlife Conservation.
3. To understand Legal Framework for Wildlife Conservation in India.

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 CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & OBJECTIVES ...................................................................... 3

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 5

WILD LIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA……............................................................................ 7

MAJOR DANGERS TO WILDLIFE.......................................................................................... 7

INITIATIVES BY GOVERNMENT FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION................................ 10

PROJECT TIGER………………................................................................................................. 11
CURRENT STATUS OF BLACK BUCK………...………........................................................... 12
STATUS OF FRESHWATER GANGETIC GHARIALS................................................................ 13

LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA ……………………14

THE WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972………………………………………………………...…14
THE INDIAN FOREST ACT (1927) AND FOREST ACTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT……......15
ENVIRONMENT PROETCTION ACT, 1986 ………………………………………………………….16
NATIONAL WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (2002-2016)………………………………………………..17

NEED FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA ……………………………………….18

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 20

BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 21

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 INTRODUCTION
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their
habitat. Wildlife plays an important role in balancing the ecosystem and provides stability to
different natural processes of nature like rainfall (transpiration from plant), changing of
temperature (heat evolution by animals), fertility of soil (making of manure by earthworm).
The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations
to enjoy and also to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness for humans and other
species alike.1 Many nations have government agencies and NGO's dedicated to wildlife
conservation, which help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. Numerous
independent non-profit organizations also promote various wildlife conservation causes.2

Wildlife conservation has become an increasingly important practice due to the negative effects
of human activity on wildlife. An endangered species is defined as a population of a living
species that is in the danger of becoming extinct because the species has a very low or falling
population, or because they are threatened by the varying environmental or prepositional
parameters like (land slides, in temperature above optimum temperature, acid rain).

Wildlife conservation in India has a long history, dating back to the colonial period when it was
rather very restrictive to only targeted species and that too in a defined geographical area. Then,
the formation of the Wildlife Board at the national level and enactment of Wildlife Act in 1972
laid the foundation of present day “wildlife conservation” era in post-independent India.
Henceforth, the Act has been amended several times and the National Wildlife Advisory Board
has undergone various changes. Wildlife resources constitute a vital link in the survival of the
human species and have been a subject of much fascination, interest, and research all over the
world. Today, when wildlife habitats are under severe pressure and a large number of species of
wild fauna have become endangered, the effective conservation of wild animals is of great
significance. Because every one of us depends on plants and animals for all vital components of
our welfare, it is more than a matter of convenience that they continue to exist; it is a matter of
life and death. Human society depends on genetic resources for virtually all of its food; nearly

1
"Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement". Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE).
Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012
2
"Wildlife Conservation". Conservation and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 June 2012.

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half of its medicines; much of its clothing; in some regions, all of its fuel and building materials;
and part of its mental and spiritual welfare. Considering the way we are galloping ahead,
oblivious of what legacy we plan to leave for future generations, the future does not seem too
bright. Statisticians have projected that by 2020, the human population will have increased by
more than half, and the arable fertile land and tropical forests will be less than half of what they
are today. Genetic resources are treated as inexhaustible mineral resources, but we need to care
about them. It is here that the concept of management and conservation of wildlife comes into
play, because anything that is not human or undomesticated is ‘wildlife’.

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 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA

India is the seventh largest country in the world and Asia’s second largest nation with an area of
3,287,263 km2 , a national border of 15,200 km, and a coastline of 7516 km. For administrative
purposes, India is divided into 28 states and union territories and is home to more than 1 billion
people, which is approximately 16% of the world’s population. Ecologically, India can be
divided into three main regions: • the Himalayan Mountain system; • the peninsular India
subregion (woodlands and desert); and • the tropical rain forest region. A great wealth of
biological diversity exists in these regions and in India’s wetlands and marine areas. This
richness is shown in absolute numbers of species and the proportion of the world’s total they
represent.

The people of the Indian subcontinent were once blessed with some of the most profuse natural
gifts: verdant forests, water-stocked Himalayan ranges, rich coastal fish resources, productive
estuaries, grassy pastures, and bountiful river systems. Abundant rain and fertile soils added to
this plentitude. Years of mismanagement, however, have degraded our forests, wounded our
coastline, and poisoned our aquifers with devastating results. Today, India contains 172 species
(2.9% of the world’s total number) of animals that are considered to be globally threatened by the
IUCN. These include 53 species of mammals, 69 species of birds, 23 species of reptiles, and
3 species of amphibians. Extinction is somehow classified as ‘biological reality’ because no
species has, as yet, existed for more than a few million years without evolving into something
different or dying out completely. Extinction is threatening all species, but most of the time
smaller animals, like bats and rodents, face this threat more than other animals. We, however,
tend to focus on the charismatic flagship species, which we like to see and which fascinate us.
Success in evolution is measured in terms of survival: failure, by extinction. Most recent
extinctions can be attributed, either directly or indirectly, to human demographic and
technological expansion, commercialized exploitation of species, and human-caused
environmental change. These factors, in turn, have affected the reproductive rate of endangered
species and their adaptability to changing environmental conditions. Concern for wildlife is, in
fact, a concern for ourselves.

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The National Wildlife Action Plan provides the framework of the strategy as well as the
programme for conservation of wildlife. The first National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) of
1983 has been revised and the new Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) has been adopted. The
Indian Board of Wildlife, headed by the Prime Minister, is the apex advisory body overseeing
and guiding the implementation of various schemes for wildlife conservation.

MAJOR DANGERS TO WILDLIFE

Fewer natural wildlife habitat areas remain each year. Moreover, the habitat that remains has
often been degraded to bear little resemblance to the wild areas which existed in the past. Habitat
loss due to destruction, fragmentation, and degradation of habitat is the primary threat to the
survival of wildlife.

• Climate Change: Global warming is making hot days hotter, rainfall and flooding heavier,
hurricanes stronger and droughts more severe. This intensification of weather and climate
extremes will be the most visible impact of global warming in our everyday lives. It is also
causing dangerous changes to the landscape of our world, adding stress to wildlife species and
their habitat. Since many types of plants and animals have specific habitat requirements,
climate change could cause a disastrous loss of wildlife species. A slight drop or rise in average
rainfall will translate into large seasonal changes. Hibernating mammals, reptiles, amphibians
and insects are harmed and disturbed. Plants and wildlife are sensitive to moisture change so,
they will be harmed by any change in moisture level. Natural phenomena like floods,
earthquakes, volcanoes, lightning and forest fires also affect wildlife.3
• Unregulated Hunting and poaching: Unregulated hunting and poaching causes a major threat
to wildlife. Along with this, mismanagement of forest department and forest guards triggers
this problem.
• Pollution: Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms.
Pesticides and toxic chemical being widely used, making the environment toxic to certain
plants, insects, and rodents.

3
McCallum, Malcolm L. (2010). "Future climate change spells catastrophe for Blanchard's cricket
frog, Acris blanchardi (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)"

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• Overexploitation: Overexploitation is the overuse of wildlife and plant species by people for
food, clothing, pets, medicine, sport, and many other purposes. People have always depended

on wildlife and plants for food, clothing, medicine, shelter and many other needs. More
resources are being consumed than the natural world can supply. The danger is that if too many
individuals of a species are taken from their natural environment, the species may no longer
be able to survive. The loss of one species can affect many other species in an ecosystem. The
hunting, trapping, collecting and fishing of wildlife at unsustainable levels is not something
new. The passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction, early in the last century, and overhunting
nearly caused the extinction of the American bison and several species of whales.
• Deforestation: Humans are continually expanding and developing, leading to an invasion of
wildlife habitats. As humans continue to grow, they clear forested land to create more space.
This stresses wildlife populations as there are fewer homes and food sources for wildlife to
survive.
• Population: The increasing population of human beings is a major threat to wildlife. More
people on the globe means more consumption of food, water, and fuel, therefore more waste
is generated. Major threats to wildlife are directly related to the increasing population of human
beings. Low population of humans results in less disturbance to wildlife. The activities like
nuclear test, use of phones, loudspeaker etc. produced a harmful radiations which decreased
the growth rate of animals and plants. These radiations also change the genetic order of DNA.
Nowadays governments were making a law to restricted the use of loudspeaker, fire crackers
and many harmful substances.
• Culling: Culling is the deliberate and selective killing of wildlife by governments as a
population control measure. An example of this is shark culling, in which Australian
government shark control programs have killed thousands of sharks, as well as turtles,
dolphins, whales, and other marine life.4 There are also examples of population culling in the
United States, such as bison in Montana and swans, geese, and deer in New York and other
places.

4
Shark Nets – Death Traps For Marine Animals".

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 INITIATIVES BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION

‘Project Tiger’ and Conservation Practices

Tigers once inhabited a vast area from Turkey to the east coast of Russia and China, north to
Siberia and south to the Indonesian island of Bali. The royal Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris,
has always been an integral part of the life and legend of India. At the beginning of the 1900s, the
Indian tiger population was estimated at 40,000 animals. The first official estimate, done in 1972,
recorded only about 1800 tigers. This led to the establishment of a task force under the Indian
Board of Wildlife, and based on their recommendations, ‘Project Tiger’ was launched on 1 April
1973 with the following objectives: • to maintain a viable population of tigers in India for
scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural, and ecological values; and • to preserve, for all times,
areas of biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of
the people. At the beginning of the project, 9 tiger reserves were created. Currently, there are 27
tiger reserves in over 17 states. These reserves cover a total area of 37,761 km2.

The Sundarbans is an area of 10,000 km2 of mangrove forest on the southern edge of the
GangesBrahmaputra-Meghna Delta in India and Bangladesh. It is considered to be the largest
prograding delta in the world, and is an open, dynamic, heterogeneous ecological system that is
resilient to disturbance from within the forest and waterways, but is sensitive to disturbance from
the outside, particularly to changes in the flow of freshwater. The Sundarbans is a high quality
wildlife conservation area of regional and international importance, but a series of incremental acts
designed to bring more food, fiber, and material into production has damaged the Sundarbans
ecosystem. The Indian part of the Sundarbans covers 9630 km2 and has been declared a Biosphere
Reserve. Project Tiger covers 2550 km2 of this area, of which 1692 km2 is the core area (National
Park) and has been declared a World Heritage Site. This unique mangrove forest area has the
largest population of tigers in the wild. Improved management has helped restore a wide variety
of flora and fauna. In this area, wildlife management occurred essentially by monitoring the

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investments made and evaluating its effects. The last census in December 2001 recorded 271 tigers
in the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans is one single ecosystem, however, and tigers do not know
political borders; hence, there is a need for cross-border censuses to ensure more accurate estimates
of tiger numbers are obtained.

Current Status of the Blackbuck /Indian Antelope

The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), or Indian antelope, is exclusive to the Indian subcontinent
and is one of the most elegant antelope species in India. Its striking sandy color and beautiful
spiraled horns make it unquestionably the most splendid specimen of the antelopes. It is also the
swiftest long-distance runner among animals; at the slightest hint of danger, it can run for about
10 km at 60 km/h. A buck with five does constitutes a family. Given protection, blackbucks
breed prolifically. The blackbuck was once very abundant, but constant persecution by humans
has sadly reduced its numbers, and it is now considered to be an endangered species. The
blackbuck is no longer found in regions where it used to thrive. It was distributed throughout the
plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, and was
hunted by the princely states with the help of trained cheetahs. The blackbuck is essentially an
animal of open, flat, or slightly undulating terrain, and reaches its greatest abundance in areas
covered with thorn and dry deciduous forests. With the destruction of forests, however, the
animal has adapted to wastelands and agricultural fields. After the disappearance of the cheetah
in the early 1960s, the blackbuck population exploded, and the species was found in large
numbers in the central and southern parts of Punjab. It began to be branded as a crop raider and
was hunted indiscriminately, especially during the ‘grow more food campaign’. Its flesh was
relished by all. The blackbuck was listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
and Punjab and Haryana honored it as their state animal. Now there are about 4000 blackbucks in
the Abohar area of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana states.

The great Indian bustard is an endangered species with less than 1000 surviving individuals.
Ironically, it is the state bird of Rajasthan and an indicator of the health of the grassland
ecosystem of the Indian plains, but it is on the brink of extinction. The great Indian bustard
forages, shelters, displays, and breeds in the grasslands, and its absence is the first warning signal
that grasslands are deteriorating.

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Current Status of the Freshwater Gangetic Gharial

The gangetic gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a thoroughly aquatic crocodilian and a resident of
deep, fast flowing rivers. It is primarily a fish-eating species and uses sandbanks for nesting. The
gangetic gharial used to have wide range over all of Indochina, but today it is the most endangered
of all the crocodilians. A gharial status survey conducted in Nepal indicated there were 60
individuals in the wild. In the Sind region of Pakistan, there are only one or two gharials remaining.
The species is practically extirpated in Bhutan and Myanmar. The situation in Bangladesh is much
worse. No gangetic gharials are found in the wild there due to heavy impacts from fishing activities
and habitat degradation. The gangetic gharial was brought back from the brink of extinction by
restocking programs that were initiated first in India in 1975, and then in Nepal in 1978. In India,
there are nine protected areas, with a total area of nearly 3000 km2 that are designated for gharial
management. Gharials are captive bred for release at six breeding centers. Eggs are also collected
from wild nests for captive rearing and release. More than 3000 juveniles have been released at 12
sites, and follow-up surveys suggest there has been an overall increase of more than 1500
individuals in the wild population. In some areas, however, the restocking program has not resulted
in population increases, although some gharials remain. In Nepal, 432 individuals were released
to the wild between 1978 and 1994. By collaborating with its neighboring countries, Pakistan is
also trying to improve the status of this unique animal. Although the gangetic gharial is virtually
extirpated in Pakistan, there are plans to start a restocking effort with assistance from Indian
institutions.

Project Elephant:

In India elephants are mainly to be found in the rain forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala;
the tropical forests of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Central India, and the western region; and the
Himalayan foothills in the north-east and Uttarakhand. India has about 25,000 elephants.

The elephant habitat has shrunk over the years, and poaching for elephant tusks has endangered
the species especially in southern India. Construction of roads and dams has led to encroachment
of forest lands, interfering with the traditional migratory routes of elephants necessary for them in

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their search for food. Conversion of natural forests to monocarp plantations for commercial
purposes has also been harmful. The forced isolation of elephants in reserves has often led to
inbreeding with the consequential negative effects.

Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 to assist states having free-ranging populations
of wild elephants to ensure long term survival of identified viable populations of elephants in their
natural habitats.The project is being implemented in 13 states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The states are given financial as well as technical
and scientific assistance in achieving the objectives of the project

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 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA

Many people are under the impression that India does not have strong wildlife conservation laws.
On the contrary, we have some of the most stringent legislations to protect wildlife and habitats. It
is imperative that all conservationists familiarize themselves with these laws, so that they can
contribute effectively. It is also vital to understand which institutions control land in India before
any conservation interventions can be attempted in any landscape. The legal status of the land must
first be ascertained so that one can engage with the correct authorities or agencies.

The Government of India has introduced various types of legislation in response to the growing
destruction of wildlife and forests.

1. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Last amended in 2006)

The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972 is an important statute that provides a powerful legal
framework for:

• Prohibition of hunting

• Protection and management of wildlife habitats

• Establishment of protected areas

• Regulation and control of trade in parts and products derived from wildlife

Management of zoos.

The WLPA provides for several categories of Protected Areas/Reserves:

• National Parks

• Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Tiger Reserves

• Conservation Reserves

• Community Reserves

National parks and Tiger Reserves are by law more strictly protected, allowing virtually no human
activity except that which is in the interest of wildlife conservation. Grazing and private tenurial
rights are disallowed in National Parks but can be allowed in sanctuaries at the discretion of the

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Chief Wildlife Warden. The amended WLPA does not allow for any commercial exploitation of
forest produce in both national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and local communities can collect
forest produce only for their bona fide needs.

No wild mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile, fish, crustacean, insects, or coelenterates listed in four
Schedules of the WLPA can be hunted either within or outside protected areas. On conviction, the
penalty for hunting is imprisonment for a period ranging from a minimum of three to a maximum
of seven years with fines not less than 10,000 rupees.

Community reserves and conservation reserves are two new categories of protected areas that have
been included under the WLPA. These two categories provide a greater role for local communities,
stakeholders and civil society as well as the opportunity to protect many areas of conservation
value that cannot be designated under strict categories such as wildlife sanctuaries or national
parks.

The statute prohibits the destruction or diversion of wildlife and its habitat by any method unless
it is for improvement or better management and this is decided by the state government in
consultation with the National and State Boards for Wildlife.

The WLPA contains elaborate procedures for dealing with legal rights in proposed protected areas
and acquisition of any land or interest under this law is deemed as an acquisition for a public
purpose. However, with the enactment of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, compliance of various provisions relating to
tenurial and community rights must be ensured.

Apart from protected area establishment, other important aspects of the WLPA include procedures
for the appointment of state wildlife authorities and wildlife boards, the regulation of trade in
wildlife products and the prevention, detection and punishment of violations of the WLPA.

2. The Indian Forest Act (1927) and Forest Acts of State Government

The main objective of the Indian Forest Act (1927) was to secure exclusive state control over
forests to meet the demand for timber. Most of these untitled lands had traditionally belonged to
the forest dwelling communities. The Act defined state ownership, regulated its use, and
appropriated the power to substitute or extinguish customary rights. The Act facilitates three
categories of forests, namely

• Reserved forests

• Village forests

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• Protected forests

Reserved forests are the most protected within these categories. No rights can be acquired in
reserved forests except by succession or under a grant or contract with the government. Felling
trees, grazing cattle, removing forest products, quarrying, fishing, and hunting are punishable with
a fine or imprisonment. Although the Indian Forest Act is a federal act, many states have enacted
similar forest acts but with some modifications.

The Indian Forests Act of 1865 extended the British colonialism in India and claimed over forests
in India. The 1865 act was a precursor to the Forest Act of 1878, which truncated the centuriesold
traditional use by communities of their forests and secured the colonial governments control over
the forestry. The act of 1865 empowered the British government to declare any land covered with
trees as a government forest and make rules to manage it.The government mainly used the woods
for railway sleepers manufacture. This law also made teak wood a government property.

Reserved Forest is notified under section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 [Act 16 of 1927] or
under the reservation provisions of the Forest acts of the State Governments. It is within power of
a State Government to issue a preliminary notification under section 4 of the Act declaring that it
has been decided to constitute such land, as specified in a Schedule with details of its location, area
and boundary description, into a Reserved Forest. Such a notification also appoints an officer of
the State Government, normally the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district, as Forest
Settlement Officer.

3. The Environment (Protection) Act (1986)

The Environment Protection Act is an important legislation that provides for coordination of
activities of the various regulatory agencies, creation of authorities with adequate powers for
environmental protection, regulation of the discharge of environmental pollutants, handling of
hazardous substances, etc. The Act provided an opportunity to extend legal protection to non-forest
habitats (‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’) such as grasslands, wetlands and coastal zones.

This act has four Chapters and 26 Sections. Chapter one consists of Preliminary information such
as Short Title, Extend, Date of Commencement and Definitions. The definitions are given in the
second section of the Act. Chapter 2 describes general powers of Central Government. Section 3

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gives the Central Government the power to take action to protect the environment. Section 4 allows
the government to appoint officers to achieve these objectives. It also gives the government the
power to give direction to closure, prohibition or regulation of industry, process etc. It also gives
Central Government the power to issue rules to regulate environmental pollution. The acts has
provisions for penalties for contravention of the provisions of the act and rules, orders and
directions. It also gives detail if the offence is done by a company or government department. It
says for such offence the in-charge and head of department respectively would be liable for
punishment.

4. National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016)

Replaces the earlier Plan adopted in 1983 and was introduced in response to the need for a change
in priorities given the increased commercial use of natural resources, continued growth of human
and livestock populations, and changes in consumption patterns.

The Plan most closely represents an actual policy on protection of wildlife. It focuses on
strengthening and enhancing the protected area network, on the conservation of endangered
wildlife and their habitats, on controlling trade in wildlife products and on research, education, and
training.

The Plan endorses two new protected area categories: “conservation reserves,” referring to
corridors connecting protected areas, and “community reserves”, which will allow greater
participation of local communities in protected area management through traditional or cultural
conservation practices. These new categories of protected areas are likely to bring in corridor areas
under protection. The Plan contains various recommendations to address the needs of local
communities living outside protected areas and outlines the need for voluntary relocation and
rehabilitation of villages within protected areas. The Plan recognizes the need to reduce
humanwildlife conflict and emphasizes the establishment of effective compensation mechanisms.
It includes the restoration of degraded habitats outside protected areas as a key objective.

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 NEED FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA

Wildlife is a precious gift of God to this planet. The term ‘wildlife’ not only caters to wild animals
but also takes into account all undomesticated lifeforms including birds, insects, plants, fungi and
even microscopic organisms. For maintaining a healthy ecological balance on this earth, animals,
plants and marine species are as important as humans. Each organism on this earth has a unique
place in food chain that helps contribute to the ecosystem in its own special way. But, sadly today,
many of the animals and birds are getting endangered. The natural habitats of animals and plants
are being destroyed for land development and farming by humans. Poaching and hunting of
animals for fur, jewellery, meat and leather are other great factors contributing to wildlife
extinction. If soon, no stringent steps are taken to save wildlife, it would not be long when they
will find a place only on the list of extinct species. And that would not be all! The extinction of
wildlife species will certainly have a fatal impact on human race as well. So, for us as humans, it
becomes a great responsibility to save the wildlife, our planet and most importantly, our own
selves.

FOR A HEALTHY ECO-SYSTEM

The eco-system is all about relationships between different organisms connected through food
webs and food chains. Even if a single wildlife species gets extinct from the eco-system, it may
disturb the whole food chain ultimately leading to disastrous results. Consider a simple example
of a bee that is vital for growth of certain crops due to their pollen carrying roles. If bees get
reduced in numbers, the growth of food crops would definitely lower owing to lack of pollination.

Similarly, if a specie gets increased in number, again it can have an adverse effect on the ecological
balance. Consider another simple case of carnivores which is getting reduced every day due to
human poaching and hunting. The reduction of these carnivores is leading to increase in the
number of herbivores who are dependent on forest vegetation for their survival. It would not be
long, when the number of herbivores in forests would soar to such a great extent that they would
move to agricultural lands and villages for their food needs. Thus, saving wildlife plays a great
role in ensuring a check on the ecological balance thereby, maintaining a healthy eco-system.

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FOR THEIR MEDICINAL VALUES

A huge number of plants and animal species are used to benefit humans in one way or the other.
Many of the medicines such as aspirin, penicillin, quinine, morphine and vincristine have been
derived from uncultivated plants. If we talk about the ancient medicinal system of Ayurveda, it
has also been using extracts and juices from various plants and herbs to cure problems like blood
pressure, diabetes and many other neurological problems since ages.

FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Wildlife also plays a significant role in keeping the environment clean and healthy. Many
microorganisms, bacteria, slime moulds, fungi and earthworms feed on plant and animal wastes,
decomposing them and releasing their chemicals back into the soil, thus, replenishing it with
nutrients which in turn, are taken up by roots of plants enabling them to grow and develop. Well!
This is not all. Do you know that the birds like eagles and vultures that are hated by people, also
contribute to the nature in great ways? These scavengers help remove the carcasses and dead
bodies of animals thereby, keeping the environment clean. Just imagine a life surrounded with
layers of dead bodies lying near us un-decayed and unrotten. Thanks to these species who are
helping us to live in a clean and healthy environment.

FOR PRESERVING RICH BIO-DIVERSITY

Scientists and researchers are aggressively working these days to preserve plants and animals
through ‘Gene Banks’. These gene banks are a store house of cells and tissues of scores of wildlife
species that play an important role in agriculture and farming. With these cells and tissues, not
only the original plant varieties and animal breeds be re-generated in times of wildlife epidemics,
climate changes or any such natural calamities resulting in reduction or extinction of these species
but, also new varieties and breeds with improved genetic traits be generated thus, increasing a
chromosomal diversity within species. Besides cells and tissues, gene banks also store plant seeds,
sperms, eggs and embryos of numerous mammal species. Storing reproductive organs, such as
ovaries and testes is also getting common with the advancement in science and technology.

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 CONCLUSION

Wildlife habitat and species around the world are facing a crisis. It is estimated that global warming
may cause the extinction of 15–37% of species by 2050. This is another aspect which needs
attention because we could lose about 1.25 million species. Unlike other environmental losses, this
one cannot be reversed because nature does not give second chances to biodiversity. If we take
into consideration the conventional reasons why wildlife is disappearing in Asia, India is doing far
better than other countries. India has launched an extensive protected area network of research
institutions in which legislation, socio-economic factors, and wildlife research are playing a great
role. The Central Zoo Authority plays a key role with zoos in programming research activities
related to the conservation and propagation of wild animals. Planned research activities include
studies on wildlife biology, genetic variability, speciesspecific nutritional requirements, animal
behavior, epidemiological surveys, and disease diagnosis through postmortem examination. The
future depends on interaction between captive and wild animals, preservation of biodiversity, and
genetic and demographic variations of species. India still has 65% of Asia’s tiger population, 85%
of the Asian rhino population, 80% of the Asian elephant population, and 100% of the Asiatic lion
population. These are all highly endangered and poached animals

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 REFFERENCES

BOOKS REFERRED

1. Dr Nishtha Jaswal Dr. P S Jaswal , ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, (Allahbad Law Agency,

2017)
2. S. Shanthakumar, INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, (Lexis Nexis;
Second edition, 2008).
3. P. Leelakrishnan, Environmental Law in India, Lexis Nexis; 4th edition (26 July 2016).

WEBSITES ACCESSED

• https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/69415913/hundal_edited_final_march_10.pdf Last
visited on: 16/03/19. At: 5:00 PM
• https://www.india.gov.in/people-
groups/community/environmentalists/conservationwildlife.; Last visited on: 16/03/19. At:
5:30 PM
• https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/forests/wildlife-conservation-in-india-are-wereally-
serious--51505.; Last visited on: 16/03/19. At: 5:30 PM
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1006585103683.; Last visited on: 16/03/19.
At: 5:30 PM.

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