वन्य जीव (संरक्षण) अधिनियम
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Act 53 of 1972 — the principal statute on protection of wild animals, birds and plants in India. Sets up the Wild Life Wardens, the National and State Boards for Wild Life, the Central Zoo Authority, the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau; declares Sanctuaries, National Parks, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves; prohibits hunting and trade in scheduled species; and prescribes penalties going up to seven years' imprisonment.
- Sections
- 66
- Chapters
- 7
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Commenced
- Brought into force in different States/UTs on dates appointed by the Central Government by notification under section 1(3). For most States/UTs the principal provisions commenced on or after 9 September 1972.
Preamble
What this Act sets out to do
An Act to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.
Table of contents
Chapters
Chapter I§1–2
Preliminary
Two foundational sections. Section 1 sets the Act's name, extent and commencement; Section 2 carries the dictionary that the rest of the Act relies on — including the definitions of 'animal', 'wild animal', 'hunting', 'sanctuary' and 'National Park'.
2 sections
Chapter II§3–8
Authorities to be appointed or constituted under the Act
Sets up every authority the Act will ever invoke. The Centre appoints a Director of Wild Life Preservation; every State appoints a Chief Wild Life Warden. Section 5A constitutes the National Board for Wild Life chaired by the Prime Minister; Section 6 constitutes the State Boards chaired by each Chief Minister.
9 sections
Chapter III§9–17
Hunting of Wild Animals
Hunting is the heart of the Act's prohibition regime. Section 9 absolutely bans hunting of any wild animal in Schedules I–IV. The two narrow exceptions — dangerous or terminally injured animals (§11) and special-purpose permits for education, science and snake-venom (§12) — are the only routes by which a lawful hunt can occur. Sections 13–17 were repealed in 1991; section 10 was deleted with them.
5 sections
Chapter IIIA§17A–17H
Protection of Specified Plants
Inserted by the 1991 amendment, this chapter protects plants listed in Schedule VI. It bans picking, uprooting, possessing, selling or transporting specified plants — unless under permit (§17B) for education, science, herbarium or propagation. Cultivation (§17C) and dealing (§17D) require licences from the Chief Wild Life Warden. Stocks must be declared (§17E), and every illegally held plant becomes Government property (§17H). Members of Scheduled Tribes retain a narrow personal-use protection.
8 sections
Chapter IV§18–38
Protected Areas
The Act's spatial protection regime. Sanctuaries are declared under §18 with a Collector-led rights-settlement under §§19–26 modelled on the Land Acquisition Act 1894, becoming final under §26A. Sections 27–34 lock down entry, activities, fire, weapons and arms-licensing inside the sanctuary. National Parks (§35) are the stricter sibling — even forest produce removal needs satisfaction of necessity. Conservation Reserves (§§36A–B) and Community Reserves (§§36C–D), inserted in 2003, broaden the toolkit to landscapes adjacent to protected areas and to community-volunteered habitats. Section 38 lets the Centre declare its own sanctuaries and parks on transferred land.
31 sections
Chapter IVA§38A–38J
Central Zoo Authority and Recognition of Zoos
Inserted by the 1991 amendment after the 1990 Supreme Court directive in Animal Welfare Board v. Union of India, this chapter constitutes the Central Zoo Authority — a Central Government body of up to twelve members — to set minimum standards for housing, upkeep and veterinary care, recognise (and de-recognise) every zoo in the country, identify endangered species for captive breeding, coordinate stud-books, and provide technical assistance. After 2003, no zoo can be established without the Authority's prior approval, and no animal listed in Schedules I or II can move in or out of any zoo without its permission.
10 sections
Chapter IVB§38K–38X
National Tiger Conservation Authority
Inserted by the 2006 amendment after the Sariska crisis and the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force, this chapter statutorily constitutes the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — chaired by the Environment & Forests Minister — and gives it powers to approve State Tiger Conservation Plans, notify tiger reserves with core (inviolate) and buffer zones, prevent ecologically unsustainable land use inside tiger reserves, and bar de-notification without National Board approval. Tribal and forest-dweller rights cannot be adversely affected without informed Gram Sabha consent and a complete relief-and-rehabilitation package. Each tiger reserve State must also set up a Tiger Conservation Foundation.
14 sections
Chapter IVC§38Y–38Z
Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau
Inserted by the 2006 amendment, this chapter sets up the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) — India's specialised national-level enforcement agency for wildlife and forest crime. The Bureau pools officers from the Wildlife, Police, Forest and Customs services and is tasked with intelligence collection, inter-State and international coordination, CITES implementation, capacity building, and policy advice.
2 sections
Chapter V§39–49
Trade or Commerce in Wild Animals, Animal Articles and Trophies
Vests every illegally hunted or unlawfully held wild animal — and its article, trophy or meat — in the State (or Centre for Centre-declared sanctuaries/parks). Builds the country's wildlife-property regime: declarations of pre-existing stocks, certificates of ownership, inquiry and inventory by the Chief Wild Life Warden, controls on transfer, and the §44 licensing system for dealers, manufacturers, taxidermists, eating-houses and meat traders.
13 sections
Chapter VA§49A–49C
Prohibition of Trade or Commerce in Trophies, Animal Articles, etc., Derived from Certain Animals
Inserted by the 1986 amendment (and tightened in 1991 to bring imported ivory within its net). This chapter is the absolute trade ban on Schedule I and Schedule II Part II animals: after the 'specified date' no manufacture, dealing, taxidermy, eating-house service or meat trade in scheduled-animal articles is permitted — even existing §44 licences cannot save the activity. Pre-existing stocks must be declared, and only the Chief Wild Life Warden's certificate of ownership (with the Director's prior approval) permits bona fide personal use.
3 sections
Chapter VI§50–58
Prevention and Detection of Offences
The Act's enforcement engine. Section 50 gives the Director, Chief Wild Life Warden, forest officers and police (sub-inspector and above) sweeping powers — entry, search, seizure, arrest without warrant, and (for senior officers) search-warrant, witness-attendance and evidence-recording powers. Section 51's penalty ladder runs up to seven years' imprisonment for Schedule I / II Part II offences. The chapter also carries bail conditions for repeat offenders, attempt and abetment liability, composition by senior officers, the §55 limited-prosecutor rule (with the 60-day citizen complaint route), and corporate liability for companies and their officers.
10 sections
Source
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About this Act
Quick facts
- Year
- 1972
- Sections
- 66
- Chapters
- 7
- Tier
- Tier 1
Amendments
- 1982Act 23 of 1982 — First amendment — refinements to permits and offences.
- 1986Act 28 of 1986 — Stricter trade controls; insertion of Chapter VA.
- 1991Act 44 of 1991 — Major overhaul — sanctuary acquisition procedure, ivory ban, enhanced penalties.
- 2002Act 16 of 2003 (Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002) — National Board for Wild Life, National Tiger Conservation provisions, forfeiture chapter (VIA), community/conservation reserves.
- 2006Act 39 of 2006 — National Tiger Conservation Authority and Tiger and other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Chapters IVB and IVC).
- 2022Act 18 of 2022 (Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022) — Schedule rationalisation, CITES alignment, vermin and elephant transfer reforms.