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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1500
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
Protection of Indian Roller
1500. SHRI K.R. SURESH REDDY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether Government has taken a note of the significant decline of nearly 30 per cent
population of the State bird of Telangana, the Indian Roller (Blue Jay) over the last
twelve years and its current listing as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List;
(b) whether any population surveys, monitoring programmes or habitat-mapping initiatives
have been undertaken; and
(c) the measures taken or proposed by Government to conserve the Indian Roller and steps
to ensure long-term stabilisation and recovery of its population across its range?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) Protection and management of wildlife and their habitat is primarily the responsibility
of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Population estimation of
flagship species such as Tiger, Snow Leopard, Dolphin are carried out at the national level.
Population assessments for other wild animals/birds etc. are carried out by the States and Union
Territories, and these are not collated at the level of Ministry.
Wild animals listed in the Schedule I and II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 are
protected against hunting. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) is listed in Schedule II of the
Act.
The important steps taken by the Government to protect wildlife, including birds are:
(i) A network of Protected Area (National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserve and
Community Reserve) have been created in the country.
(ii) Financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories for management of
wildlife and development of its habitat under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes
‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger & Elephant’, as per the Annual
Plan of Operation (APO) submitted by the respective States and Union Territories.
The activities supported under the schemes include habitat improvement, protection,
awareness and Eco Development involving local communities in wildlife
conservation.
(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) 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.
(v) Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZ) are notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries under
the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
(vi) The Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) 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 WCCB for
preventive action on poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
(viii) GPS/Satellite tracking, camera traps, drones etc. are used for monitoring of wild
animals.
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