Wild animals etc. to be Government property

Trade or Commerce in Wild Animals, Animal Articles and Trophies

Wild animals etc. to be Government property.--

1. (1) Every--
   • (a) wild animal, other than vermin, which is hunted under section 10 or sub-section
2. (1) of section 29 or sub-section
3. (6) of section 35 or kept or bred in captivity in contravention of any provision of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder, or found dead, or killed without a licence or by mistake, and
   • (b) animal article, trophy or uncured trophy or meat derived from any wild animal or captive animal referred to in clause
   • (a) in respect of which any offence against this Act or any rule or order made thereunder has been committed, shall be the property of the Government, and where such animal is hunted in a sanctuary or National Park, declared by the Government, such animal or any animal article, trophy, uncured trophy or meat derived from such animal, shall be the property of the Government.
4. (2) Any person who obtains, by any means, the possession of Government property, shall within fortyeight hours from obtaining such possession, make a report as to the obtaining of such possession to the nearest police station or the authorised officer and shall, if so required, hand over such property to the officer-incharge of such police station or such authorised officer, as the case may be.
5. (3) No person shall, without the previous permission in writing of the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer--
   • (a) acquire or keep in his possession, custody or control, or
   • (b) transfer to any person whether by way of gift, sale or otherwise, or
   • (c) destroy or damage, such Government property.