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The 22 endangered species are also protected under a centrally sponsored scheme called Wildlife Habitat Development. (Reuters/file)
Financial assistance is being provided to states and union territories for the program to restore 22 specific species such as snow leopard, dolphin, sea turtle, great Indian rhinoceros, Asian lions, Arabian humpback whale, and others.
Chennai: The center has identified 22 species of animals, birds and aquatic animals as critically endangered, and financial support is being given to states and union territories that have these species, according to the union’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Financial assistance is being provided to the States/Union Territories (UT) for the Species Recovery Program of 22 identified species such as Snow Leopard, Bustard including Floricans, Dolphin, Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine Turtles, Dugong, Andaman Edible-nest Swiftlet, Wild Buffalo, Nicobar Megapode, Sangai, Vultures, Malabar-Horns-Civet, Rhinocer., Batagur Baska, Clouded Leopard. , humpback whales in the Arabian Sea, red pandas and caracals,” the ministry said.
All of these are also protected under a centrally supported scheme called Wildlife Habitat Development.
Explaining the steps taken to protect the animals, the ministry said a network of protected areas (national parks, sanctuaries, conservation reserves, and community reserves) has been established.
“Legal protection of wild animals and plants from hunting and commercial exploitation has been provided under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the law has been amended from time to time and made more stringent. Punishment in crime cases has been toughened,” a senior ministry official said.
The official said the Wildlife Crime Bureau is coordinating with state/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and the illegal trade in wild animals and animal materials.
Local communities participate in conservation measures through environmental development activities, which help forest management protect wildlife. “The Ministry launched the National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) to conserve wildlife through a landscape level approach, including the conservation of endangered species,” he said.
Among the 22 endangered species identified and financially supported under the centrally supported scheme, the great Indian bustard, Asian lion, sea turtle, sea dugong, caracal and dolphins are reported to be found in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Sea Turtles, Jerdon’s Courser, Great Indian Bustard, and Dolphins are all found in Andhra Pradesh.
In 2022-23, the center has allocated Rs 56.48 crore to various states and union territories for the protection of 22 animals. Compared to the previous two years, the allocation in the last fiscal year was the lowest. In 2020-21, Rs. 87.64 crore has been allocated, while in 2021-22 it has been allocated Rs. 87.55 crore.
Among the states, Odisha received a maximum of Rs 9.67 crore followed by Maharashtra (Rs 3.5 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 2.91 crore). Among the union territories, Lakshadweep received a maximum of Rs 2.69 crore.
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