Killing of India`s wildlife pride such as tigers, lions, elephants and dolphins could result in a fine of maximum of Rs one crore and jail of up to 10 years, maximum for any wildlife offence and similar crime listed under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
In a bid to provide highest degree of legal protection to most vulnerable animals to poaching, the Environment ministry in the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has put tigers, whose population is said to be less than 1,411, in the category one.
Other endangered animals in this category include lions, elephants, rhino, crocodile and antelope.
Under the existing provisions, killing an endangered animal in national park means jail term of between three to seven years and maximum fine Rs 10,000 for first offence and Rs 25,000 for the second offence.
To kill a tiger, a poacher gets anything between Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000, whereas the body parts fetch between Rs. three to five lakh in the international market.
In the amendments finalized by the ministry, killing an animal in category one could minimum jail of five years and maximum seven.
The fine prescribed is minimum Rs. Five lakh and maximum Rs. one crore. For second offence, the jail term suggested is between seven and ten years and fine of Rs. 75 lakh or more.
For species listed under category two including endangered birds, the jail term suggested is between three to five years and fine of up to Rs three lakh.
"Timely and needed," was reaction of Samir Sinha, head of Traffic India, an international wildlife crime monitoring NGO, to the amendments. The traffic studies have suggested that illegal wildlife trade was rampant in India and may be increasing the illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be four to five times of illegal wildlife trade of one million US dollars.
Sinha said the amendments will send a strong message but other wildlife experts were of the view that its enforcement would remain an issue. "Most courts in India are willing to impose heavy fines and jail terms for illegal wildlife criminals," said an expert, on condition of anonymity.
Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh expects the bill to be introduced in second half of the budget session in April. "What we have proposed, is the strongest possible punishment for wildlife crime," Ramesh said.
