**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 219 in Lok Sabha, dated December 1, 2025, concerning the protection and conservation of endangered species in India. It details the measures taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, including legal protection, financial assistance, and specific conservation programs. The response also addresses the protection status of monitor lizards and the handling of requests from State Governments and Union Territories.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legal Protection:**
* The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, protects wild animals from hunting.
* Rare and endangered species are listed in Schedule I of the Act, according them the highest degree of protection.
* **Conservation Programmes:**
* Special programmes like 'Project Tiger', 'Project Elephant', 'Project Lion', 'Project Snow Leopard', 'Project Dolphin', 'Project Cheetah', and 'Project Great Indian Bustard' have been undertaken for conservation.
* A 'Recovery Programme for saving critically endangered species and habitats' is provided under a centrally sponsored scheme.
* Eco-development activities are undertaken by States/UTs involving local communities.
* **Financial and Technical Support:**
* Financial assistance is provided to State Governments/UTs for wildlife management and habitat development.
* Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) are notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries.
* Technology like camera traps and drones are used for monitoring wildlife and detecting illegal intrusions.
* **Wildlife Crime Control:**
* The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established to coordinate efforts to combat organized wildlife crime.
* Advisories and alerts are issued by the Bureau for preventive action on poaching.
* **Monitor Lizard Protection:**
* Four species of monitor lizard, namely the Bengal Monitor, Desert Monitor, Water Monitor, and Yellow Monitor, are listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
* **Handling of State/UT Requests:**
* The Ministry receives and examines requests/memoranda from States/UTs based on existing policies, Acts, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments / UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** Receive financial assistance for wildlife management and habitat development; implement eco-development activities; coordinate with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
* **Action Required:** Utilize financial assistance effectively, engage local communities in conservation, and implement advisories and alerts from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
**Local Communities**
* **Impact:** Involvement in eco-development activities for wildlife conservation.
* **Action Required:** Participate actively in conservation efforts and adhere to wildlife protection regulations.
**Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Other Agencies**
* **Impact:** Responsible for coordinating efforts to combat organized wildlife crime.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate effectively with other agencies and State Governments, issue timely advisories and alerts, and ensure preventive action on poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Key Entities Referenced
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides protection to wild animals from hunting and lists endangered species in Schedule I for the highest degree of protection.
Project Tiger & Elephant: Centrally sponsored schemes for management of wildlife and development of habitats.
Development of Wildlife Habitats: A centrally sponsored scheme with a component of 'Recovery programme for saving critically endangered species and habitats'.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry addressing questions related to protection and conservation of endangered species.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau: Established to coordinate among agencies and State Governments to combat organized wildlife crime.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 219
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Protection and Conservation of Endangered Species
219. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether several mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and corals are
threatened/critically endangered in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has any plans for the protection and conservation of the
threatened/critically endangered species, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether monitor lizards found in Maharashtra are considered vulnerable/threatened
or endangered, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether monitor lizards are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972 or any other such legislation, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has received any proposals or request from the State
Government of Maharashtra or any Member of Parliament for the same during the
last ten years and the current year; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides protection to wild animals from hunting.
Rare and endangered species of wild animals are listed in Schedule I of the Act, thereby according
them highest degree of protection. The important steps taken for protection and conservation of
species include:
(i) Special programmes like ‘Project Tiger’, ‘Project Elephant’ ‘Project Lion’, ‘Project Snow
Leopard’, Project Dolphin, ‘Project Cheetah’, ‘Project Great Indian Bustard’, have been
undertaken for their conservation.
(ii) Financial assistance is provided to State Governments /UT Administrations for
management of wildlife and development of its habitat under the Centrally sponsored
schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’and ‘Project Tiger & Elephant’.
(iii) A specific component of ‘Recovery programme for saving critically endangered species
and habitats’ is provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Development of Wildlife
Habitats’ for focused conservation action on identified 24 critically endangered species.
(iv) Eco Development activities are undertaken by the States Governments /UT
administrations involving local communities in wildlife conservation.
(v) Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZ) are notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries under the
provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
(vi) The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to ensure co-ordination among various
agencies and State Governments to combat organized wildlife crime.(vii) Advisories and alerts are issued to State and Central agencies by the Wild Life Crime
Control Bureau for preventive action on poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
(viii) Technology like Camera traps, drones, wireless, e-survellience, etc. are used for
monitoring of wild animals, detecting illegal intrusions ,early warning system in relaying
information to quick reaction teams in the field for managing human wildlife conflict.
(c) to (f) Four species of Monitor Lizard, viz., Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Desert
Monitor (Varanus griseus), Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) and Yellow Monitor (Varanus
flavescens) have been listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Ministry receives requests/memoranda from the States/UTs, including people’s representatives,
from time to time. Such requests/memoranda are examined in the Ministry as per extant policies,
Acts, rules, regulations, guidelines etc.
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