World Wildlife Day
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Context: World Wildlife Day, observed on March 3 every year, is an opportunity to celebrate beautiful varied forms of wild fauna. It is observed to raise awareness to conserve them.
What is the need to conserve fauna?
- Ecological-wellbeing: Animals have a huge contribution to our ecological system by providing multiple ecological services.
- Sustainable development: They also contribute to the generic, social, economic, scientific, educational and human well-being of sustainable development.
About World wildlife day:
- Theme for World Wildlife Day 2022 is ‘Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration’.
History and Significance:
- The UN General Assembly on December 20, 2013, during its 68th session, decided to declare March 3, the day of adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), as World Wildlife Day.
- CITES was established to regulate international trade in species threatened with extinction. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- This day has become one of the most important global annual events dedicated to wildlife. As around 8000 species of wild fauna and flora are endangered and 30,000 are known to be on the verge of getting extinct.
- Significance: This day holds significance for the UN because saving these species aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero hunger) 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns), 13 (Climate Action) 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land) and their commitments like alleviating poverty, ensuring sustainable use of resources and conserving life on land.
Wildlife crimes in India:
- Between 2018 and 2020 about 2054 cases were registered for killing or illegal trafficking of wild animals in India.
- The data was made available on the basis of cases registered by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and State Forest and Police Authorities in the past three years.
Reasons:
- Fund crunch: The Union government has cut the funds released under three flagship wildlife schemes even though poaching remains rampant.
- Man-Animal conflict: Over 2,000 people in India were killed by elephants while tigers claimed over 200 lives in the last five years, according to data provided by the government.
- Poaching and hunting: Killing, transportation and illegal trade of wild animal is done for their body parts mainly skin, horn, bones and meat.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) led operations to protect wildlife:
- It had launched operation “Save Kurma” to focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises.
- “Operation Turtshield- I”and Operation Turtshield-II” was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles.
- WCCB conducted Operation “Lesknow”, “Lesknow-II” and Operation “Lesknow-III” to gain attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species of wildlife.
- WCCB’s “Operation Clean Art” to drag attention of enforcement agencies towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes.
- “Operation Softgold” to tackle Shahtoosh Shawl(made from Chiru wool) illegal trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in this trade.
- Operation Birbilto curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species.
- “Operation Wildnet”, “Operation Wildnet-II”, “Operation Wildnet-III”and “Operation Wildnet-IV” to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever increasing illegal wildlife trade over internet using social media platforms.
- “Operation Freefly” on illegal trade of live birdsand “Operation Wetmark” to ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the countr
About Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB):
- It has received the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award-2020awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- It is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to combat organised wildlife crime.
- Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlifecrime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action.
Functions:
- establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank;
- co-ordinate actionsby various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act;
- assist foreign authorities and international organizationconcerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control;
- capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agenciesfor scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes; and
- advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws.
- assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
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