**Summary:**
In response to a parliamentary question regarding guidelines for wildlife forensics and tiger conservation, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provided the following information.
The Government of India, through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for investigating tiger deaths, encompassing laboratory diagnostics and field documentation.
Furthermore, the NTCA, in conjunction with the Wildlife Institute of India, has identified 32 major tiger corridors across the country, documented in "Connecting Tiger Populations for Long term Conservation," to facilitate tiger conservation efforts under Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The NTCA Guidelines, 2012, also provide guidance on managing tigers and their habitats, along with relevant advisories and SOPs.
Financial support is available to tiger range states through the Project Tiger component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSSIDWH). This funding supports tiger conservation, awareness programs, habitat management, protection measures, ecodevelopment initiatives, human resource and infrastructure development, and voluntary village relocation, including the establishment of protection corridors, community vigilance mechanisms, and enhanced response systems, as outlined in the sanctioned Annual Plan of Operation for each Tiger Reserve.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about guidelines for wildlife death investigation.
Male Mahadeshwara Hills Sanctuary, Karnataka: Wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka, mentioned as a place where unnatural deaths of wild animals have occurred.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the answer to the question.
National Tiger Conservation Authority: Government of India authority responsible for tiger conservation.
Wildlife Institute of India: An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change involved in wildlife research and management.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: An Act of the Parliament of India enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
Connecting Tiger Populations for Long term Conservation: A document identifying 32 major tiger corridors in the country for tiger conservation.
Project Tiger: A centrally sponsored scheme for tiger conservation within the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1338
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Guidelines for Investigation of Death of Wild Animals
1338. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has any guidelines for wildlife forensics, toxicology tests
and field-level documentation in case of unnatural death of wild animals like in Male
Mahadeshwara Hills Sanctuary, Karnataka and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Government proposes to strengthen inter-linked tiger habitats in
Karnataka through dedicated protection corridors, community vigilance mechanisms
and enhanced response systems and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The Government of India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority
has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with tiger death
which inter-alia addresses the issues of laboratory related diagnosis and field
level documentation.
(b) The National Tiger Conservation Authority alongwith the Wildlife Institute of
India, in letter and spirit of section 38 O (1) (g) of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 have identified 32 major tiger corridors in the country and
published them in a document titled “Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-
term Conservation”, for undertaking Tiger Conservation in terms of section
38V of the Act. Government of India has also notified the National Tiger
Conservation Authority (NTCA) Guidelines, 2012 for management of tigers
and their habitats along with Advisories and Standard Operating Procedures.
Funding support is provided under the Project Tiger component of the
ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife
Habitats (CSS-IDWH) to tiger range States for conservation of tigers, raising
awareness on tiger & other wildlife conservation, habitat management,
protection, eco-development, human resource and infrastructure development,
voluntary village relocation, which include protection corridors, community
vigilance mechanisms and enhanced response systems, as per sanctioned
Annual Plan of Operation of the Tiger Reserve.
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