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Q35 (IAS/2017) Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Protected Areas › Threatened species conservation Official Key

According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law ? 1. Gharial 2. Indian wild ass 3. Wild buffalo Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting[1] habitats. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.[1] The central government announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the Gharial.[1] Poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed Schedule 1 to schedule 4 are prohibited.[2] No person shall hunt any wild animal as specified in schedules I, II, III and IV except as provided under section 11 and section 12.[3] All three animals—Gharial, Indian wild ass, and wild buffalo—are protected under the schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, meaning they cannot be hunted except under specific legal provisions. Therefore, the correct answer is option D (1, 2 and 3).

Sources
  1. [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
  2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
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Q. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisi…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 3.3/10
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This question masquerades as a specific legal query but is actually a 'General Awareness' test on India's flagship species. If an animal has a government 'Project' (Project Crocodile/Gharial) or a dedicated Sanctuary (Wild Ass Sanctuary), it is automatically in the highest protection bracket (Schedule I). The strategy is to link 'Conservation Projects' to 'Legal Schedules'.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is the gharial listed among species that cannot be hunted by any person except under provisions of the Act?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
Presence: 5/5
“Fig. 2.1 Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife. Subsequently, central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries about which you have already studied. The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the onehorned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links the 1972 Act's conservation thrust — including banning hunting — with specific recovery projects.
  • Names the Gharial among species for which the central government announced protection projects, implying it was covered by the Act's protection measures.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
Presence: 4/5
“Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 consists of 6 schedule lists, which give varying degrees of protection. Poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed Schedule 1 to schedule 4 are prohibited.”
Why this source?
  • Describes that the Wildlife Protection Act uses schedule lists which give varying degrees of protection.
  • States that poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed in Schedules I–IV are prohibited, supporting the idea that scheduled species cannot be hunted.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the wildlife act, 1972 > p. 13
Presence: 4/5
“Te Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the following: • (i) Protection of specifed plants.• (ii) Prohibition of hunting of wild animals.• (iii) Declaration of sanctuaries, national parks, and closed areas.• (iv) Management of sanctuaries, national parks, and closed areas.• (v) Constitution of Central Zoo Authority.• (vi) Granting licence for hunting of animals for the purpose of education, scientifc research, and scientifc management.• (vii) Granting of licence (permits) for picking, uprooting, etc. of specifed plants for the purpose of education, and scientifc research.• (viii) Granting of licence (permit) for trade and commerce in wild animals, and animal products.• (ix) Granting of licence (permits) for cultivation of specifed but otherwise prohibited plants.• (x) Protecting the rights of Scheduled Tribes Population.• (xi) Penalties for violation of various provisions of the Act.”
Why this source?
  • Lists the Act's provisions including 'prohibition of hunting of wild animals'.
  • Also lists permitting/licensing for hunting for education, scientific research and management — matching the 'except under provisions of the Act' qualification.
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