Q. In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

  • It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
  • It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection; and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
  • It is endemic to a particular region of India.
  • Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.

Answer: (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.

Notes:

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

  • This Act provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds and plants, and also for the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas within the country.
  • The Act provides for the formation of wildlife advisory boards, wildlife wardens, specifies their powers and duties, etc.
  • With the help of this act, India became a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
  • The Act created six schedules which gave varying degrees of protection to classes of flora and fauna.
  • Schedule I and Schedule II (Part II) get absolute protection and offences under these schedules attract the utmost penalties.

Schedule I

  • This Schedule covers endangered species.
  • These species need rigorous protection and thus very harsh penalties for violation of the law are for species under this Schedule.
  • Species under this Schedule are prohibited to be hunted throughout India, except under threat to human life.
  • Absolute protection is accorded to species in this list.
  • Trade of these animals is prohibited.
  • Examples: tiger, blackbuck, Himalayan Brown Bear, Brow-Antlered Deer, Blue whale, Common Dolphin, Cheetah, Clouded Leopard, hornbills, Indian Gazelle, etc. Hence option 1 is correct.

Schedule II

  • Animals under this list are also accorded high protection.
  • Their trade is prohibited.
  • They cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.
  • Examples: Kohinoor (insect), Assamese Macaque, Bengal Hanuman langur, Large Indian Civet, Indian Fox, Larger Kashmir Flying Squirrel, Kashmir Fox, etc.

Schedule III & IV

  • This list is for species that are not endangered.
  • This includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules.
  • Examples: hyena, Himalayan rat, porcupine, flying fox, Malabar tree toad, etc.

Schedule V

  • This schedule contains animals which can be hunted.
  • Examples: mice, rat, common crow, fruit bats, etc.

Schedule VI

  • This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation.
  • Examples: pitcher plant, blue vanda, red vanda etc.