Prelims 2022 · Q89
With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements:
- 1.Wild animals are the sole property of the government.
- 2.When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside.
- 3.Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 only
- (c)1 and 3
- (d)3 only
Show answer
UPSC's answer: (b)
NCERT answers it: Class 10 Contemporary India – II, Ch 2 (Forest and Wildlife Resources); Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 14 (Biodiversity and Conservation).
The one fact NCERT doesn't give: Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, only some wild animals — such as those hunted illegally or found dead — become government property. Wild animals in general are not its 'sole property'.
Class 10 Contemporary India II, ch 2: protected animals have legal protection against hunting and trade throughout India, not only in protected areas (2 true). With the fact, 1 is false, which leaves only (b). Answer (b).
Beyond NCERT: statement 3 is false too. The Act lets the Chief Wild Life Warden permit killing only an animal that has become dangerous, and only if it cannot be captured, tranquilised or translocated. A mere fear is not enough. Source: Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, section 11(1)(a), as amended by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 (No. 16 of 2003) — text on the Wildlife Institute of India site (v1.wii.gov.in/wildlife_act_1)
Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2022), question 89 ↗