Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India
Project By:
Rishon Nandi
XA
Acknowledgement:
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my Geography teacher, Ms.
Shreyashi Sengupta for her able guidance and support in completing my project and
for guiding me on the reference material that was required.
I would also like to extend my thanks to all my friends who helped me through
discussions and special mention for Mayank Gupta and Kavish Chajjer for their tips
and ideas for the project. I would also thank our Principal, Ms Suvina Shunglu for
opening new pathways for learning through giving us this opportunity for doing this
project.
Last but not the least I thank my parents for their constant guidance and support.
Table Of Contents:
1. Topic of the project 1
2. Acknowledgement 2
3. Introduction to Wildlife 4
4. Endangered Animals 5
5. Wildlife Conservation Efforts In India 6
6. National Parks 7
7. Wildlife Sanctuaries 8
8. Biosphere Reserves 9
9. Case Study 10
10. Statistics On Declining Wildlife in India 13
11. Eco Tourism 15
12. Legislation on Wildlife Protection 17
13. Conclusion 19
14. Bibliography 20
1. Introduction to Wildlife
Definition
The natural assets of the Earth include plants, animals, water, land, the atmosphere,
and humans. Wildlife traditionally refers to undomesticated animal species, but has
come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being
introduced by humans. E.g. a deer in a forest or a bird seen along a hike.
In simple terms, wildlife refers to animals inhabiting an area where humans are not
present. India is a country known for it’s biodiversity and wildlife.
Wildlife found in different regions of India:
The wildlife of North India is vast and diverse and includes animals such as the
elephants, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, chital, fox, Tibetan Sand Fox, Rhesus
Monkey, langurs, jungle cats, hyenas, jackals etc. The wildlife of Eastern India is
unique and constituted by wild buffaloes, rhinoceros, Pigmy Hog, Hispid Hare etc.
Western India is teeming with flora and fauna and boasts of a number of spectacular
wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that abound in Asiatic Lions, Blackbucks,
Indian Wild Ass, Olive Ridley Turtles, Eels, Wolves and Desert Cats. The Southern
part is one of the richest parts of the country in terms of flora and fauna especially
the Nilgiri biosphere along with the Western and the Eastern Ghats are rich reserves
of wildlife and are important conservation areas too. he Central part of the country
due to its diverse terrain is house of many important sanctuaries.
National parks and wildlife reserves have been constituted in different parts of the
country for a healthy interaction of humans and wildlife ensuring protection of wildlife.
India, today, has as many as 15 biosphere reserves for the conservation of endemic
and endangered species.
Bengal Tigress- Pench Tiger Reserve
Asiatic Lions- Gir National Park
Indian Leopard- Nagarhole National Park
Nicobar Pigeon- Nicobar Islands
Indian Elephant- Bandipur National Park
Indian Rhinoceros- Kaziranga National Park
Chital herd – Kanha National Park
Blackbuck- Blackbuck National Park
Barasingha- Dudhwa National Park
Blackbuck Asiatic Lion
Bengal Tiger
Indian Elephant
2. Endangered Animals
In the last four decades, the world has lost an overwhelming number of species due
to human misconduct, such as deforestation, overpopulation, climate change, animal
exploitation, and consumer culture. India which was traditionally known for it’s
Biodiversity is no exception resulting in many species of animals getting endangered.
When an animal species is considered endangered, it means that it is nearly extinct
as a significant portion of its range has already died off and the rate of birth is lower
than the species' death rate.
Some of the key reasons for endangerment of animals are as listed below:
Destruction of Habitat: Every organism needs a place to live , find food,
raise it’s young ones etc. Humans destroy the precious natural environment
and habitat for their own gains. They fill swamps and marshes, dam rivers and
cut down trees to build homes, roads and other developments. Habit
destruction is one of the primary reasons of animal endangerment E.g.:
Asiatic Lion, Kashmiri Red Stag, Indian Bison
Hunting & Poaching: Many animals are over-hunted because their meat, fur
and other parts are very valuable. E.g.: Bengal tiger,, Blackbuck, One Horned
Rhinoceros
Climate change: Some animals are endangered because of increased
greenhouse gas emissions. Eg. Snow leopard
Pollution: In addition to physical encroachment, human development
of animals' habitats pollutes the natural landscape with petroleum
products, pesticides, and other chemicals, which destroy food sources
and viable shelters for the creatures and plants of that area. Oil spills,
acid rain and water pollution have been devastating for many species
of fish and birds. Ganges dolphins are an endangered species due to river
pollution.
Blackbuck Bengal tiger
Snow Leopard
Wildlife conservation efforts in India
After realising the above-mentioned reasons for some animals becoming
endangered, the government of India has taken several measures for wildlife
conservation. Some of them are:
a. Reforestation
b. Discouraging killing of animals
c. Conservation programmes: Some organisations help in conservation of
forests through their projects, programmes and joint efforts with the
government. India has 89 national parks, 18 Bio-Reserves, and 400
wildlife sanctuaries
d. Laws to conserve forests: Legal acts such as The Forest (Conservation) Act
1980 passed by the Government of India aims at preserving and conserving
natural forests and meeting the needs of people living near the forests. This
also ensures that animals don’t lose their natural habitat.
e. Farm-forestry
f. Social forestry
National Parks
Definition: An area of countryside, or occasionally sea or fresh water, protected by
the state for the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of wildlife. It is a
natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national
governments.
There are various national parks in India. Some of them are:
Ranthambore National Park
Kaziranga National Park
Jim Corbett National Park
Bench National Park
Gir National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary
Definition: A wildlife sanctuary is an area where animal habitats and their
surroundings are protected from any sort of disturbance. The capturing, killing
and poaching of animals is strictly prohibited in these regions.
List of some wildlife sanctuaries:
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh
Sukhna Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandigarh
Biosphere Reserve
Definition: A biosphere reserve is a large, protected area of land meant for the
conservation of wildlife, biodiversity and the traditional lifestyles of the tribal people
living in the area. A special feature of biosphere reserves is that local people or
tribals are an integral part of it.
List of some biosphere reserves:
Panna Biosphere Reserve
Kachchh Biosphere Reserve
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
Manas Biosphere Reserve
Sunderban Biosphere Reserve
Case Study: Jim Corbett National Park
Introduction: It is a known scientific fact that habitat diversity is the leading factor
that effectively facilitates growth of different species of fauna anywhere on planet
earth and Jim Corbett National Park is no exception. This is because it features an
array of fauna. Jim Corbett National Park has been popular since time immemorial
because of its resident tigers. It happens to be the first Indian national park in and
therefore the oldest as logic would dictate. It is among the 9 existing tiger reserves
that were designed and built during the pompous launch of the famous Project Tiger
back in the year 1973.
History: Some areas of the park were formerly part of the princely state of Tehri
Garhwal. The forests were cleared by the Environment and Forests Department
(Uttarakhand) to make the area less vulnerable to Rohilla invaders. The Raja of
Tehri formally ceded a part of his princely state to the East India Company in return
for their assistance in ousting the Gurkhas from his domain. The Buksas—a tribe
from the Terai—settled on the land and began growing crops, but in the early 1860s
they were evicted with the advent of British rule.
Efforts to save the forests of the region began in the 19th century under Major
Ramsay, the British Officer who was in-charge of the area during those times. The
first step in the protection of the area began in 1868 when the British forest
department established control over the land and prohibited cultivation and the
operation of cattle stations. In 1879 these forests were constituted into a reserve
forest where restricted felling was permitted.
In the early 1900s, several Britishers, including E. R. Stevans and E. A. Smythies,
suggested the setting up of a national park on this soil. The British administration
considered the possibility of creating a game reserve there in 1907. It was only in the
1930s that the process of demarcation for such an area got underway. A reserve
area known as Hailey National Park covering 323.75 km2 (125.00 sq mi) was created
in 1936, when Sir Malcolm Hailey was the Governor of United Provinces; and Asia's
first national park came into existence. Hunting was not allowed in the reserve, only
timber cutting for domestic purposes. Soon after the establishment of the reserve,
rules prohibiting killing and capturing of mammals, reptiles and birds within its
boundaries were passed.
The reserve was renamed in 1954–55 as Ramganga National Park and was again
renamed in 1955–56 as Corbett National Park, after author and naturalist Jim
Corbett.
The park fared well during the 1930s under an elected administration. But, during
the Second World War, it suffered from excessive poaching and timber cutting. Over
time, the area in the reserve was increased—797.72 km2 (308.00 sq mi) were added
in 1991 as a buffer zone to the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The 1991 addition included
the entire Kalagarh forest division, assimilating the 301.18 km2 (116.29 sq mi) area
of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of the Kalagarh division. It was chosen in
1974 as the location for launching the Project Tiger wildlife conservation project. The
reserve is administered from its headquarters in the Nainital district.
Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen protected areas covered by the World -
Wide Fund for Nature under their Terai Arc Landscape Program. The program aims
to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species, the tiger, the Asian
elephant and the great one-horned rhinoceros, by restoring corridors of forest to link
13 protected areas of Nepal and India, to enable wildlife migration.
A still from Jim Corbett National Park
Location: It is located in Nainital, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand, India.
Species protected: Tigers, elephants, crocodile, Deer, Para or Hog Deer, Sambar,
Kakar or Barking Deer, Leopards, Langurs, Wild boars, Gharials, etc.
Steps taken by the Government to conserve animals in Jim Corbett National Park
are:
Veterinary care
Various studies and literature were introduced to create awareness amongst
the masses.
The Gharial Rehabilitation Project formed a subunit of the umbrella Crocodile
Conservation Project.
To locate, establish and manage a series of crocodile rehabilitation centres
and sanctuaries in suitable habitats.
Statistics on the declining wildlife in India
Eco Tourism
Definition: Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel to natural
areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people.
Principles and guidelines of Eco Tourism are:
Prepare travellers to minimize their negative impact while visiting sensitive
environments and cultures before departure.
Prepare traveller for each encounter with local cultures and with native
animals and plants.
Minimize visitors impacts on the on the environment by offering literature,
briefing, leading by example, and taking corrective actions.
Minimize traveller impact on cultures by offering literature, briefings, leading
by example, and taking corrective actions.
Use adequate leadership, and maintain small enough groups to ensure
minimum group impact on destination. Avoid areas that are under-managed
and over-visited.
Ensure managers, staff and contract employees know and participate in all
aspects of company policy to prevent impacts on the environment and local
cultures.
Give managers, staff and contact employees access to programmes that will
upgrade their ability to communicate with and manage clients in sensitive
natural and cultural settings.
Be a contributor to the conservation of the region being visited.
Provide competitive, local employment in all aspect of business operation.
Offer site-sensitive accommodations that are not wasteful of local resources
or destructive to the environment, which provide ample opportunity for
learning about the environment and sensitive interchange with local
communities.
Focuses on personally experiencing natural areas in ways that led to greater
understanding and appreciation.
Objectives of Eco tourism
Also called “nature tourism”, the main objective of ecotourism is to minimize the
negative impact brought about by tourism on the environment. The idea is to focus
on uniting conservation, communities and sustainable development through the
means of travel.
Other objectives of eco-tourism are:
One of the main goals of ecotourism is to increase the awareness tourists
have about the social conditions surrounding a travel destination. Such
conditions as poverty are often hidden from tourists. Ecotourism aims to
expose tourists to the realities of social and economic climates in an area.
For example, rather than visiting a nature preserve in Africa without
receiving any information on the lives of local people surrounding and
working to protect the preserve, ecotourism educates travellers on the
interdependent relationship between conservation, sustainability and the real
life of local communities. The International Ecotourism Society describes
one of the main principles of ecotourism as building cultural awareness and
respect for local people and customs.
Ecotourism works to combine travel with educational opportunities on
sustainability and conversation. Ecotourism educates travellers on the value
of protecting natural areas and resources and introduces travellers to
concepts of sustainability within local communities and economies. Tourists
are not the only ones who are educated by participating in ecotourism. When
an emphasis in a community is placed on protecting a natural area and its
resources, and an economy builds in support of those protective efforts,
local people are also educated about sustainability and conservation
practices that will benefit their community
Legislation of wildlife protection
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:
This Act provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds, and
plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
Among other things, the Act lays down restrictions on hunting many animal
species. The Act was last amended in the year 2006.
An Amendment bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2013 and referred to
a Standing Committee, but it was withdrawn in 2015.
Constitutional Provisions for the Wildlife Act:
Article 48A of the Constitution of India directs the State to protect and improve
the environment and safeguard wildlife and forests. This article was added to
the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
Article 51A imposes certain fundamental duties for the people of India. One of
them is to protect and improve the natural environment including forests,
lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.
History of wildlife protection legislation in India:
The first such law was passed by the British Indian Government in 1887
called the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1887. The law sought to prohibit the
possession and sale of specified wild birds that were either killed or captured
during a breeding session.
A second law was enacted in 1912 called the Wild Birds and Animals
Protection Act. This was amended in 1935 when the Wild Birds and Animals
Protection (Amendment) Act 1935 was passed.
During the British Raj, wildlife protection was not accorded a priority. It was
only in 1960 that the issue of protection of wildlife and the prevention of
certain species from becoming extinct came into the fore.
Need for the Wildlife Protection Act:
Wildlife is a part of ‘forests’ and this was a state subject until the Parliament
passed this law in 1972. Now it is Concurrent List. Reasons for a nationwide
law in the domain of environment particularly wildlife include the following:
India is a treasure-trove of varied flora and fauna. Many species were seeing
a rapid decline in numbers. For instance, it was mentioned by Edward
Pritchard Gee (A naturalist), that at the turn of the 20th century, India was
home to close to 40000 tigers. But, a census in 1972 showed this number
drastically reduced to about 1827.
A drastic decrease in the flora and fauna can cause ecological imbalance,
which affects many aspects of climate and the ecosystem.
The most recent Act passed during the British era in this regard was the Wild
Birds and Animals Protection, 1935. This needed to be upgraded as the
punishments awarded to poachers and traders of wildlife products were
disproportionate to the huge financial benefits that accrue to them.
There were only five national parks in India prior to the enactment of this Act.
Conclusion
India is known for it’s biodiversity due to the presence of various flora and fauna.
Hence, it is rightly termed as a biodiversity hotspot. However, due to issues like
poaching, animal cruelty, loss of habitat and climate change, India is losing it’s
biodiversity and many animals are being endangered. The government has taken
several measures to control these problems and progress is taking place. However,
laws are not enough. Our mindset must change and we ourselves must realize the
potential consequences of loss of biodiversity and do our bit to prevent it from
amplifying. One measure is eco-tourism. It helps us to understand the animals and
local people better. Hence, we learn to respect them. Poaching mostly happens due
to lack of education. Hence, if we educate the local people, the number of poachers
will significantly reduce. Hence, education plays an important role in preventing loss
of biodiversity and reducing the number of endangered animals.
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