Understanding the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was instituted to protect wild animals from human cruelty. Due to the increase in the human population and consequent over utilisation of resources, the conflict between humans and wild animals continued to increase. Humans captured more and more land to settle civilisations, thus lessening green areas for animals to reside in. Apart from taking away their habitat, humans increasingly engaged in hunting wild animals for trade, meat among others. As animal lovers, enthusiasts, researchers and veterinarians understood animal behaviour, they realised that wildlife was not meant to interact with humans. They are different from domestic animals and prefer living in the wilderness. To protect animals from humans and to maintain ecological balance and peace, the act was instituted which made hunting, poaching, trading and occupation of reserved areas illegal and punishable by offence.
Let's dive into understanding a few of these schedules and laws that all of us ought to know.
Schedule I of the act protects endangered animals from poaching, hunting, killing, etc. Animals like Rhinoceros, Bengal Tiger, Black Buck, Loris, Pangolin, Peafowl, are some of the species protected under this schedule. The penalty for offenders is high.
Schedule II of the act accords high protection to animals like Jackal, King Cobra, Indian Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Rhesus Macaque, Giant Squirrel and restricts their hunting or trading. They cannot be kept in captivity as pets. Many serpents keep Cobras as pets to earn more money. They defang the snake to save themselves from getting bit, hence cutting their lifespan in half. It is important to educate the locals and make them aware of the law.
Species that are not endangered but are protected by the law come under Schedule III and IV. Some animals that are listed under these schedules include Hyena, Nilgai, Hares, Falcons, Kingfishers, Flamingoes. Often, these animals are hunted or traded as pets. The Wildlife pet trade is illegal and keeping any of the protected animals captive is punishable by offence.
Bangalore has parakeets, macaques, Asian palm civets, hares, snakes as some of the species which are illegally traded as pets. PfA Bangalore has rescued many animals from captivity. Keeping a wild animal captive for trading or killing or as pet can make one liable for punishment as directed by the Wildlife Protection Act. To know more about how captivity affects these animals, read our blog titled, "Voices Unheard - The experience of animals and behavioral change after animal abuse". The psychological, physical and emotional trauma experienced by wild animals is the reason why they are protected from humans.
How to Proceed?
Knowing the next course of action is important. If you have a pet who belongs to the wild or you witness an animal in captivity/being illegally traded, here is how you can help -
Surrender your pet to a wildlife organisation
Make a video of the animal being in captivity or traded off. Gathering evidence is important
Once you have evidence, you can either reach out to NGOs or file a complaint as an individual
Section 55 of the wildlife protection act of 1972 will enable you to file the complaint
Section 9 of the act clarifies hunting as captivity without killing. Section 57 states that anyone in possession of wild animals or birds can be booked under the punishment for hunting, making them liable to imprisonment for up to three years
What's most important is to make ourselves and the people around us aware of these laws. More often than not, we rescue animals from people who did not know these laws exist. We educate them and leave them with a warning. But with people who engage in illegal trading and hunting, the top priority is to file a complaint immediately.
Laws for animals in India are not talked about. Animals are still considered inferior to humans and thus, their suffering is considered unworthy of notice. Having conversations around the existence of animal laws and making amendments to them will ensure the safety of animals in the future. Raising our voice against injustice puts us on the path to change. And for our wonderful non-human friends, it is the least we can do!
Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer @ PfA Bangalore
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ReplyDeleteThank you for this informative article on the Wildlife Protection Act! It’s crucial to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding our wildlife and understanding the laws in place to protect them. As someone passionate about animal welfare, I appreciate the work of organizations like PFA in spreading knowledge on this critical topic.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, for pet owners, ensuring the health and well-being of domestic animals is equally important. Providing balanced andHealthy Dog Food plays a vital role in maintaining our furry friends' overall health and happiness. Let’s continue to care for all creatures, wild and domestic, with compassion and responsibility.