The Government of India constituted a statutory body, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau on 6th June 2007, by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a special Act to protect the wildlife in the country. The bureau would complement the efforts of the state governments, primary enforcers of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other enforcement agencies of the country.

Functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

The functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are defined under section 38Z(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 which reads as follows:

“Subject to the Provisions of this Act, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau shall take measures with respect to:-

(i) Collect and collate intelligence related to organized Wildlife Crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals and to establish a centralized Wildlife Crime data bank;
(ii) Co-ordination of actions by various officers, State Governments and other authorities in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, either directly or through regional and border units set up by the Bureau;
(iii) Implementation of obligations under the various international Conventions and protocols that are in force at present or which may be ratified or acceded to by India in future;
(iv) Assistance to concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international organizations to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control;
(v) Develop infrastructure and capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes;
(vi) Advice the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, and suggest changes required in relevant policy and laws from time to time.”

Acts & Rules

Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Customs Act, 1962

Wildlife (Protection) Rules, 1995
Wildlife (Transaction and Taxidermy) Rules,1973

Conventions

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora-1973