{"id":78043,"date":"2021-01-23T19:28:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T13:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=78043"},"modified":"2021-03-04T16:48:08","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T11:18:08","slug":"issue-of-cruelty-against-wild-animals-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/issue-of-cruelty-against-wild-animals-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue of cruelty against wild animals in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently an elephant died in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), Tamil Nadu. The death was caused by a burning tyre thrown at the elephant by some people.<\/p>\n

This is not the first instance when a wild animal has been killed due to fire, firecrackers or by a mob with sticks<\/strong>. The violence against wild animals has increased many folds in recent years. But such news gets attention only when a video gets viral or some mainstream media airs it.<\/p>\n

There is an urgent need to know the root causes of this increasing threat to wildlife.<\/p>\n

Present status of cruelty against wild animals in India:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Before this incident, in June 2020 a pregnant elephant died due to hunger and fatigue. This happened after a local fed a cracker stuffed pineapple to her.<\/p>\n

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act<\/strong>, between 2012 and 2016, more than 24000 cases of animal cruelty have been reported in India.<\/p>\n

In India, cruelty against wild animals is mainly prevalent in the areas where a man comes in contact with wild animals or vice versa<\/strong>. About 20-25% of people directly derive their livelihood from the forest or the agricultural land in the vicinity.<\/p>\n

Why there is a high prevalence of cruelty against wildlife?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First<\/strong>, the prevalence of Illegal wildlife trade<\/strong>: Wild animals in India are hunted for their body parts such as tiger and leopard skins, their bones and other body parts. These products are smuggled at very high prices in markets such as China, South East Asia, Europe and the Gulf.<\/p>\n

Second<\/strong>, in India, there is increased pressure on natural resources. <\/strong>This has led to a decrease in wildlife corridors. <\/strong>Wildlife corridors are the lifeline of wild animals. This is resulting in human-animal conflict and conflicts are used to justify violence against wild animals.<\/p>\n

Third<\/strong>, The threat to farmers<\/strong>: Farmers in India have only fragmented landholdings (The average farm size in India is only 1.15 hectares). Farmers see wild animals as a threat to their livelihood. They resort to cruelty against animals to protect crops by Electric fencing, poisoned fruits, firecrackers, snare traps,\u00a0 etc.<\/p>\n

Fourth<\/strong>, people generally see wild animals as a threat to humanity<\/strong>. Even though wild animals don’t want to harm humans, Human see the wild animal as a threat at the moment they saw the animal.<\/p>\n

Laws to stop cruelty against animals in India<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPrevention of cruelty to animals.\u201d and \u201cProtection of wild animals and birds.\u201d are present in Concurrent List (both the Centre and the States have the power to legislate).<\/p>\n

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  1. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    First<\/strong>, this Act prohibited the capturing, trapping, baiting, or poisoning of wild animals (even attempting to do) as a punishable offence. The Act prescribes punishments such as 25,000 INR fine or a prison term (up to 7 years) or both.<\/p>\n

    Second<\/strong>, The Act also makes it unlawful to injure, destroys wild birds or reptiles, damaging their eggs or disturbing their eggs or nests. If the person found guilty he\/she can be punished with imprisonment (3 to 7 years) and a fine of Rs 25,000.<\/p>\n

    Third, the Act established the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. <\/strong>The Bureau aims to combat organized wildlife crime in the country<\/p>\n

    2.\u00a0The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    First<\/strong>, This Act defines \u201canimal\u201d as any living creature other than a human being.<\/p>\n

    Second<\/strong>, The Act generally focuses on all the animals, but<\/strong>\u00a0it has certain specific provisions aimed towards the cruelty of wild animals. They are<\/p>\n