Vidhi Codex

THE WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972

The Indian Wild Life Protection Act, 1972

Environmental1972142 sections8 chapters

The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is India’s cornerstone environmental law safeguarding biodiversity by strictly regulating the hunting, trade, and commercial possession of wild animals, trophies, and specified plants. It applies to all citizens, businesses, zoos, and other commercial operators across India, while carving out exceptions for scientific research and protecting the traditional lifestyle rights of specific tribal communities. The Act matters because it establishes designated protected areas like national parks, forms specialized conservation bodies such as the Tiger Authority, and imposes severe penalties including jail time for illegal poaching, preventing wildlife extinction and preserving ecological balance for future generations.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II AUTHORITIES TO BE APPOINTED OR CONSTITUTED UNDER THE ACT →

  1. 3Appointment of Director and other officers
  2. 4Appointment of Life Warden and other officers
  3. 5Power to delegate
  4. 5AConstitution of the National Board for Wild Life
  5. 5BStanding Committee of the National Board
  6. 5CFunctions of the National Board
  7. 6Constitution of State Board for Wild Life
  8. 7Procedure to be followed by the Board
  9. 8Duties of State Board for Wild Life

Chapter III HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS →

  1. 9Prohibition of hunting
  2. 11Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases
  3. 12Grant of permit for special purposes
  4. 17AProhibition of picking, uprooting, etc. of specified plant
  5. 17BGrants of permit for special purposes
  6. 17CCultivation of specified plants without licence prohibited
  7. 17DDealing in specified plants without licence prohibited
  8. 17EDeclaration of stock
  9. 17FPossession, etc., of plants by licensee
  10. 17GPurchase, etc., of specified plants
  11. 17HPlants to be Government property

Chapter IV PROTECTED AREAS →

  1. 18Declaration of sanctuary
  2. 18AProtection to sanctuaries
  3. 18BAppointment of Collectors
  4. 19Collector to determine rights
  5. 20Bar of accrual of rights
  6. 21Proclamation by Collector
  7. 22Inquiry by Collector
  8. 23Powers of Collector
  9. 24Acquisition of rights
  10. 25Acquisition proceedings
  11. 25ATime-limit for completion of acquisition proceedings
  12. 26Delegation of Collector’s powers
  13. 26ADeclaration of area as sanctuary
  14. 27Restriction on entry in sanctuary
  15. 28Grant of permit
  16. 29Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit
  17. 30Causing fire prohibited
  18. 31Prohibition of entry into sanctuary with weapon
  19. 32Ban on use of injurious substances
  20. 33Control of sanctuaries
  21. 33AImmunisation of live-stock
  22. 33BAdvisory Committee
  23. 34Registration of certain persons in possession of arms
  24. 35Declaration of National Parks
  25. 36ADeclaration and management of a conservation reserve
  26. 36BConservation reserve management committee
  27. 36CDeclaration and management of community reserve
  28. 36DCommunity reserve management committee
  29. 37Declaration of closed area
  30. 38Power of Central Government to declare areas as sanctuaries or National Parks
  31. 38AConstitution of Central Zoo Authority
  32. 38BTerm of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and members, etc
  33. 38CFunctions of the Authority
  34. 38DProcedure to be regulated by the Authority
  35. 38EGrants and loans to Authority and Constitution of Fund
  36. 38FAnnual report
  37. 38GAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament
  38. 38HRecognition of zoos
  39. 38JProhibition of teasing, etc., in a zoo
  40. 38KDefinitions
  41. 38LConstitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority
  42. 38MTerm of office and conditions of service of members
  43. 38NOfficers and employees of Tiger Conservation Authority
  44. 38OPowers and functions of Tiger Conservation Authority
  45. 38PProcedure to be regulated by Tiger Conservation Authority
  46. 38QGrants and loans to Tiger Conservation Authority and Constitution of Fund
  47. 38RAccounts and audit of Tiger Conservation Authority
  48. 38SAnnual report of Tiger Conservation Authority
  49. 38TAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament
  50. 38UConstitution of Steering Committee
  51. 38VTiger Conservation Plan
  52. 38WAlteration and de-notification of tiger reserves
  53. 38XEstablishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation

Chapter IVC TIGER AND OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES CRIME CONTROL BUREAU →

  1. 38YConstitution of Tiger and other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau
  2. 38ZPowers and functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Chapter V TRADE OR COMMERCE IN WILD ANIMALS, ANIMAL ARTICLES AND TROPHIES →

  1. 39Wild animals, etc., to be Government property
  2. 40Declarations
  3. 40AImmunity in certain cases
  4. 41Inquiry and preparation of inventories
  5. 42Certificate of ownership
  6. 43Regulation of transfer of animal, etc.
  7. 44Dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence prohibited
  8. 45Suspension or cancellation of licences
  9. 46Purchase
  10. 47Maintenance of records
  11. 48Restriction on transportation of wild life
  12. 48ARestriction on transportation of wild life
  13. 49Purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee
  14. 49ADefinitions
  15. 49BProhibition of dealings in trophies, animal articles, etc., derived from scheduled animals
  16. 49CDeclaration by dealers

Chapter VI PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF OFFENCES →

  1. 50Power of entry, search, arrest and detention
  2. 51Penalties
  3. 51ACertain conditions to apply while granting bail
  4. 52Attempts and abetment
  5. 53Punishment for wrongful seizure
  6. 54Power to compound offence
  7. 55Cognizance of offences
  8. 56Operation of other laws not barred
  9. 57Presumption to be made in certain cases
  10. 58Offences by Companies
  11. 58AApplication
  12. 58BDefinitions
  13. 58CProhibition of holding illegally acquired property
  14. 58DCompetent authority
  15. 58EIdentifying illegally acquired property
  16. 58FSeizure or freezing of illegally acquired property
  17. 58GManagement of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter
  18. 58HNotice of forfeiture of property
  19. 58JBurden of proof
  20. 58KFine in lieu of forfeiture
  21. 58LProcedure in relation to certain trust properties
  22. 58MCertain transfers to be null and void
  23. 58NConstitution of Appellate Tribunal
  24. 58PNotice or order not to be invalid for error in description
  25. 58QBar of jurisdiction
  26. 58RCompetent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court
  27. 58SInformation to competent authority
  28. 58TCertain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal
  29. 58UPower to take possession
  30. 58VRectification of mistakes
  31. 58WFindings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter
  32. 58XService of notices and orders
  33. 58YPunishment for acquiring property in relation to which proceedings have been taken under this Chapter

Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 59Officers to be public servants
  2. 60Protection of action taken in good faith
  3. 60AReward to persons
  4. 60BReward by State Government
  5. 61Power to alter entries in Schedules
  6. 62Declaration of certain wild animals to be vermin
  7. 63Power of Central Government to make rules
  8. 64Power of State Government to make rules
  9. 65Rights of Scheduled Tribes to be protected
  10. 66Repeal and savings

PDF: pending for this language.