The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) is a comprehensive Act of the Parliament of India that provides a legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants, and the management of their habitats. The Act was enacted on September 9, 1972, to address the problem of rampant poaching, habitat destruction, and unchecked trade that had pushed many species, like the tiger, to the brink of extinction. It replaced weak, colonial-era laws like the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1912 with a uniform national restriction on hunting and trade.
The WPA works by establishing a system of protected areas, including National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves. A key mechanism is the classification of species into Schedules, which determine the degree of protection and penalties for violations. Schedule I species, such as the Black Buck and Snow Leopard, receive the highest level of protection, with a near-total ban on hunting and the harshest penalties for offenses. The Act also regulates the trade and commerce of wildlife products and establishes bodies like the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and the Central Zoo Authority.
The WPA connects to the constitutional mandate of Article 48A (Directive Principles of State Policy) and Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties), which obligate the State and citizens to protect the environment and wildlife. The subject of "Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds" was moved from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. The Act also facilitated India's entry into the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Act was significantly amended by the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, which sought to implement CITES provisions and rationalize the Schedules. The original six Schedules were reduced to four: Schedule I and Schedule II for animals, Schedule III for protected plants, and Schedule IV for CITES-listed specimens. The amendment also increased penalties for violations and introduced provisions to regulate invasive alien species. A controversial change was the provision allowing the transfer or transport of a captive elephant for a "religious or any other purpose".