Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
India, a megadiverse country, harbors approximately 8.6% of the world’s species, including numerous endangered ones. Wildlife conservation in India has a long history, dating back to ancient times, but modern challenges are immense. Despite significant legislative frameworks like the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and initiatives like Project Tiger (1973), the nation continues to grapple with a multitude of problems hindering effective wildlife conservation and management. These issues range from escalating poaching and habitat destruction to increasing human-animal conflict and inadequate enforcement mechanisms.
Problems of Wildlife Conservation and Management in India
Wildlife conservation in India faces a complex web of interconnected challenges. These can be broadly categorized as follows:
1. Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Threat: Poaching remains a significant threat, driven by demand for wildlife products in national and international markets. Species like tigers, elephants, rhinos, and pangolins are particularly vulnerable.
- Examples: The demand for tiger bones in traditional Chinese medicine fuels poaching. Elephant tusks are illegally traded for ivory.
- Challenges: Weak enforcement, corruption, and porous borders facilitate illegal trade.
2. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
- Threat: Rapid urbanization, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development (roads, dams, railways), and deforestation lead to habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Impact: Reduced carrying capacity, increased human-animal conflict, and genetic isolation of populations.
- Examples: The shrinking habitat of the Asiatic lion in Gir Forest due to agricultural encroachment. Fragmentation of elephant corridors in Northeast India due to railway lines.
3. Human-Animal Conflict
- Threat: As human populations expand and encroach upon wildlife habitats, conflicts arise, leading to crop raiding, livestock depredation, and even human fatalities.
- Species Involved: Elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, and monkeys are frequently involved in conflicts.
- Mitigation Challenges: Lack of effective mitigation strategies, inadequate compensation mechanisms, and limited community participation.
4. Legal and Administrative Issues
- Weak Enforcement: The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is comprehensive but suffers from weak enforcement due to inadequate staffing, lack of training, and corruption.
- Bureaucratic Delays: Delays in obtaining clearances for conservation projects and resolving inter-departmental conflicts hinder effective management.
- Conflicting Interests: Balancing conservation with developmental needs often leads to compromises that undermine conservation efforts.
5. Funding Constraints
- Inadequate Funding: Wildlife conservation receives insufficient funding from both the central and state governments.
- Dependence on External Funding: Reliance on external funding sources makes conservation efforts vulnerable to fluctuations in donor priorities.
- Lack of Investment in Research: Insufficient investment in scientific research hampers evidence-based conservation planning.
6. Climate Change
- Threat: Changing climate patterns are altering habitats, disrupting migration routes, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, impacting wildlife populations.
- Impact: Coral bleaching, altered breeding seasons, and increased vulnerability to diseases.
| Challenge | Impact | Mitigation Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Poaching | Species decline, ecosystem disruption | Strengthened enforcement, anti-poaching patrols, community involvement |
| Habitat Loss | Reduced biodiversity, increased conflict | Habitat restoration, protected area expansion, sustainable land use planning |
| Human-Animal Conflict | Loss of life and property, negative attitudes towards wildlife | Electric fencing, translocation, compensation schemes, awareness campaigns |
Conclusion
Wildlife conservation in India is a multifaceted challenge requiring a holistic and integrated approach. Strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing enforcement, addressing habitat loss, mitigating human-animal conflict, and securing adequate funding are crucial steps. Greater community participation, coupled with scientific research and adaptive management strategies, is essential for ensuring the long-term survival of India’s rich biodiversity. A paradigm shift towards viewing wildlife as an integral part of the ecosystem, rather than a resource to be exploited, is vital for sustainable conservation.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.