Wildlife Conservation in India
Effects of illegal wildlife trade:
- Some species are in danger of going extinct due to demands brought on by the illegal wildlife trade.
- When animal resources are abused due to illegal trading, the ecology goes out of balance.
- Trade gangs engage in the illegal wildlife trade, which harms the country’s economy and fuels social instability.
- The illegal trade endangers wild plants that provide genetic variety for agriculture (a natural source of many medicines).
Enforcement Actions Against Various Species:
- The main objectives of Operation Save Kurma are to stop the unlawful trade, transportation, and poaching of live turtles and tortoises.
- Operation Turtshield was started in an effort to stop the illegal traffic in live turtles.
- Operation Lesknow’s goal is to inform law enforcement about the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known wildlife species.
- The purpose of Operation Clean Art is to alert law enforcement to the illegal wildlife trade in monkey hair brushes.
- The objectives of Operation Softgold include halting the illegal trade of Shahtoosh Shawls, which are created with wool from the Chiru region, and educating the weavers and merchants involved.
- Stopping the illegal trade in wild bird and cat species is the aim of Operation Birbal.
- The purpose of Operation Wildnet was to inform the nation’s law enforcement agencies of the fast-growing illegal wildlife trade that takes place online and makes use of social media platforms.
- Operation Freefly: To prevent the illegal trade in live birds.
- Operation Westmark: To ensure that the sale of wild animal meat is outlawed in all wet markets across the country.
India’s domestic legal framework for protecting wildlife:
Constitutional provisions relating to wildlife:
- The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976’s Section on Forests and the Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred from the State to the Concurrent List.
- According to Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution, every person has a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests and wildlife.
- Article 48 A of the Directive Principles of State Policy requires the State to work to protect the nation’s forests, animals, and environment.
Legal Framework:
- Environmental Protection Act of 1986
- Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972
- Biological Diversity Act of 2002
