Indian Wildlife Protection Research Articles

Comparative Legal Responses to Illicit Wildlife Trade in Bangladesh and India: Indigenous vs. Extraneous Approaches

This research examined the legal responses to illicit wildlife trade in Bangladesh and India, focusing on how these countries harmonized their domestic laws with international obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It assessed the effectiveness of Bangladesh's legal framework against wildlife trafficking and compared it to India’s advancements, particularly the Indian Wildlife Protection Amendment Act of 2022. Utilizing qualitative and doctrinal methods, the research reviewed primary and secondary sources, including statutes and international agreements. While Bangladesh faced significant challenges in enforcement and effectiveness, India strengthened its wildlife protection through stricter penalties and enhanced compliance with CITES. The research advocated for Bangladesh to adopt similar legislative reforms and improve enforcement mechanisms to better protect biodiversity and fulfill international obligations.

Editoricll Note: Plants and the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act

No Abstract.

Butterfly fauna of Dhansiri Reserve Forest, Karbi Anglong, Assam, India

The field survey carried out to document the baseline data of butterfly fauna Dhansiri Reserve Forest of Karbi Anglong District, Assam recorded 106 species belonging to six families. Graphium sarpedon, Appias albina, Spindasis lohita, Charaxes marmax, Athyma ranga, Tanaecia lepidae, Hypolycaena othona and Euploea mulciber are legally protected species under the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. Eurema andersonii, Appias albina, Appias galba, Charaxes marmax and Athyma ranga are some of the rare species recorded during the study. Record of rare and endemic species from this Reserve Forest, and presence of species legally protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, marks its importance as an area for butterfly conservation.

Seasonal Abundance of Butterfly Diversity in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary Warangal, Telangana, India

Butterflies are one of the most attractive colorful insect in the nature. In the present study was carried out to in the butterfly diversity in Pakhal wildlife sanctuary Warangal district Telangana India from June 2015 to May 2016. A Total of 44 Butterflies species belonging to 27 species genera and four families were recorded during the study period. Nymphalidae family was the richest family that comprised (17and 38.63%) of the total species of butterfly recorded in the study area followed by Piriedae family (16 and 36.36%), Papilionidae family (6 and13.63%) and Lycaenidae family were the lowest recorded (5 and 11.36%) each respectively. Among these 44 butterfly species three species were found to be protecting under the Indian wildlife (protection) Act (1972).

FAUNAL-DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES IN DISTRICT REWARI, HARYANA, INDIA

A survey was conducted to document butterfly diversity in the district Rewari, a semiarid region in Haryana, India from March 2021 to November 2022. A total of forty-two species of butterflies belonging to thirty genera and five families were identified. The expedition revealed that the diversity of the family Pieridae (40.47%) is maximum followed by Lycaenidae (28.57%), Nymphalidae (16.66%), Hesperiidae (9.52%) and Papilionidae (4.76%). It has also been observed that the species Euchrysop cnejus cnejus, Lampides boeticus and Melanitis zitenius are mentioned in Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. However, other species are mentioned in Schedule I and II.

Assessing avian diversity and conservation status in Dighal Wetlands, Haryana, India

Birds are considered sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and functionality in freshwater wetlands. Assessment of birdassemblages in wetland habitats is, therefore, emphasised from a sustainable management perspective. Bird surveys were conducted from October 2020 to September 2022. These surveys aimed to assess the community composition and status of avifauna in Dighal wetlands, an important bird area in the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. Data collection employed point counts and opportunistic encounter methods. A total of 154 bird species belonging to 108 genera, 47 families, and 18 orders were recorded. Of these, 75 species were residents, 60 were winter migrants, and 10 were summer migrants. The greatest species richness was observed for the order Passeriformes (54), followed by Charadriiformes (22), Anseriformes (17), and the rest of the 15 orders. Anatidae was the most dominant family with 17 species, constituting 11% of the bird community in the study area. Data on local abundance revealed that 10 species were common, 23 were fairly common, 83 were uncommon, and 38 were rare in the study area. Among the recorded avifauna, one species is classified as Endangered, three as Vulnerable, and eight as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 17 species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and 11 are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These wetlands also support 40 species of birds, which have a declining population trend globally. The occurrence of migrants and species of global conservation priority underscores the importance of these wetlands as a conservation site and wintering ground for avifauna due to the extensive food resources and rich biodiversity they support. The present study provides baseline information for future research on monitoring bird assemblages and proper management of the Dighal wetlands of Haryana.

First photographic record of White Royal Tajuria illurgis illurgis (Hewitson, [1869]) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Tajuria illurgis illurgis (Hewitson, [1869]), is an Indo-Malayan blue butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae with distribution across the Himalaya, but there is no photographic evidence of the species from Arunachal Pradesh. On 25 August 2022, a single individual of the species was photographed at an elevation of 1,344 m from Vijaynagar, Arunachal Pradesh, which is the first photographic record of the species from the state. This species is also legally protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Our record from Vijaynagar suggests that more scientific exploration on lepidopteran community is needed in future, with the area being geopolitically important boundary of Indo-Myanmar.

Vultures in Gidh Karai, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India: Threats, Recommendations and Conservation Measures

Vultures used to dominate the environment as the most frequent scavengers prior to the 1980s, but their numbers catastrophically dropped to >95%. A veterinary NSAID named Diclofenac, which was nephrotoxic to birds and caused renal failure and avian gout, was employed in this situation. Diclofenac was outlawed in 2006 by the governments of India, Pakistan, and Nepal in an effort to preserve the declining vulture population. The development of non-toxic meloxicam as a substitute for diclofenac has led to the stabilisation of Gyps vulture populations in various regions of Southern Asia. There are nine different species of vultures in India (both resident and migratory), three of which are categorised as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are thus given the strictest legal protection under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. However, Rajasthan is home to seven different vulture species. The study area, i.e., Gidh Karai, located in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan (India), is an ideal location for breeding and roosting Indian and Egyptian vultures. And this study briefly highlights the underlying threats, recommendations and conservation measures that need to be implemented for the protection of these vultures. It is also a sincere effort to draw attention towards the crisis of vultures and the overall need for conservation.

Bird diversity of in and around Melamadai Lake Madurai city, Tamil Nadu state, India; A preliminary study

Fresh water Lakes are suitable habitat for birds along with food and water. In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the diversity of avian fauna in Melamadai Lake in Madurai district, Tamilnadu state. The duration of study period in January 2021 to December 2021. Eighty-four species of birds were observed, belonging to 41 families, 18 order in Melamadai lake. In this study recorded in Least concern (LC) 79 species and Near Threatened (NT)Five species. The five Near Threatened species - Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ), Pied Cuckoo-dove(Reinwardtoena browni ), Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and Painted Stork-(Mycteria leucocephala)- are protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The diversity of avifauna is taken for identifying the importance of biodiversity for Madurai which is among the top ten tourism sites of world. The role of urban areas in functions such as provision of ecosystem services will largely be determined by patterns of biodiversity within that area.

A Study on conservation status of Herpetofauna of Sunderbans, India

The present study is an outcome of extensive surveys carried out by the author for about five years covering different habitats and regions in Sunderbans. A comprehensive list of 79 species, including 12 species of amphibians and 67 species of reptiles, has been provided along with their habitat. Conservation status of each species as per the Indian Wildlife Protection ACT, 2022; CITES and IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2021 have been given for all the species.

Visiting Ladakh Himalaya for a better knowledge of butterflies: new faunistic data with annotations (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea).

The present study enumerates 65 species of Papilionoidea from the Ladakh Himalaya with the geographical locations and adult flight data. All the species are documented by museum vouchers. Most of the species recorded, have restricted distribution or they are endemic to the Pamir-NW Himalaya region. Sixteen species are protected in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; three species highly protected under schedule I: Baltia butleri, Pieris krueperi, Lasiommata menava; and others under schedule II: Papilio machaon, Parnassius charltonius, Parnassius epaphus, Colias ladakensis, Colias eogene, Colias stoliczkana, Pieris deota, Pontia chloridice, Alpherakya devanica, Pamiria metallica, Paralasa mani, Paralasa kalinda and Polygonia c-album. We report lower occurrences for the endemic Pieris deota, where the migrant Pontia chloridice is reported to fly at more than 600 m higher than earlier records indicated. Lastly, the male and female genitalia of some endemic and rare species are illustrated, including Euchloe daphalis.

Butterfly Diversity of Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana, India

The present study accessed the butterfly diversity of Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana between March 2018 to February 2021. It shows the occurrence of 95 species belonging to the families Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae 29 species each, Pieridae 18 species, Hesperiidae 12 species, and Papilionidae 7 species. Within these, 9 species belong to Schedule I &II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 2022. The sampling has been carried out around 18 stations of the tiger reserve, in which Pulgampandri has 30 species and Rotiguda 25 species comparatively higher than that of other sampling stations. Prosotas noreia was rarely sighted and was first time recorded from the state of Telangana. Our goal is to explore and document butterfly fauna, which will serve as a valuable platform for butterfly conservation and quantitative diversity research.

Diversity and species richness of butterfly in soraipung range of Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, India

BackgroundThe present study deals with the butterfly diversity in Soraipung Range of Dehing Patkai National Park. The site was chosen on the basis that it lies in between Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma which is acclaimed as global biodiversity hotspot.ResultsA total of 92 butterfly species belonging to 5 families were recorded during the study of which 13 species were listed as protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and 11 species were restricted to the Eastern Himalaya, India. Members of the Nymphalidae family were found to be dominant with (41) number of species followed by Papilionidae (17), Lycaenidae (16), Hesperiidae (10) and the least Pieridae (8). The maximum diversity is obtained in Nymphalidae family: where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 3.604584 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651 while the minimum diversity is in Pieridae family where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 1.936217 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651.ConclusionsThe study reveals that Soraipung range is rich in butterfly diversity but on the contrary their study is poorly documented. During the survey 13 threatened species and 11 species restricted to the Eastern Himalaya have been also documented in the National Park, thus making it an important butterfly habitat in the state. Therefore, its necessary to conduct more study as well as research on the butterflies in Dehing Patkai National Park for effective conservation and management programs.

Status distribution and factors affecting the habitat selection by Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

Sambar Rusa unicolor is one of the deer species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The species has been listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List since 2008, and Schedule I Part A of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Populations have declined throughout its distribution range. This study aims to investigate the status, distribution, and habitat selection of Sambar in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India. Fifteen line transects of 2-km length were laid in five different habitats. Data were collected during the winter and summer seasons during 2013 and 2015. Transects were traversed morning and evening and eight replicates were made on each transect, for a total of 1,232 km survey effort. The overall density of Sambar was 3.7 individuals per km2, and the group density 1.4 groups per km2. During the summer 113 individual Sambar were observed, and in winter only 80 individuals were observed. Male:female sex ratio was calculated as 100:59 in winter, and 100:56 in summer. Indirect evidence was also collected to supplement the direct sightings for analysis of habitat use. Ten-meter circular plots were laid on all 15 transects at an interval of 200 m between two plots. Principal component analysis and logistic regression were performed to understand the habitat use of this species during summer, post-monsoon, and winter seasons using pellet groups. The logistic regression model showed an efficiency of 97% correct classification during post-monsoon, 67% in winter, and 66% in summer.

Ecology of Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes in the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Nannaj, Solapur, Maharashtra, India

The Indian wolf, Canis lupus pallipes is an endangered carnivore of India listed in Schedule-1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. There is not much information available on the species and with this perspective, the present study was initiated in the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra. Direct and indirect evidences were used to assess its population status and distribution, habitat use, feeding ecology, denning behaviour and wolf-human conflict emanating due to livestock depredation. Intensive ecological and behavioural studies were conducted at Nannaj on one pack between 1991 and 1994. The wolf survives all over the Sanctuary, which is densely populated by humans as elsewhere in its distribution range in India where wolf-human conflicts are common arising either due to livestock depredation or child-lifting. Usually, large packs were present in Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra areas whereas smaller packs inhabited areas not supporting healthy populations of Blackbuck. In Blackbuck poor areas, the wolf survived mainly on livestock. The Sanctuary supports 40-58 wolves. The wolves had a seasonal pattern of habitat use related to movement of prey and livestock. Wolves selected those areas as rendezvous sites which had higher prey density, vegetation cover, minimum human disturbance and were located close to water source. On an average wolves consumed 3.68 (S.E.=0.17) kg/wolf/kill and kill periodicity was 3.65 days (S.E.=0.58). Wolves preyed largely on blackbuck during the non-breeding period and livestock during denning period. Predation was higher on male blackbuck than females despite female biased sex ratio. The average litter size of three packs was recorded to be 5 (range 4-6). The dominant male and female wolves guarded the dens more often than the helpers. They used multiple dens for raising pups that were excavated and/or renewed during denning period. Important conservation problems of wolf have also been discussed in the paper.

Ecology of Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes in the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Nannaj, Solapur, Maharashtra, India

The Indian wolf, Canis lupus pallipes is an endangered carnivore of India listed in Schedule-1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. There is not much information available on the species and with this perspective, the present study was initiated in the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra. Direct and indirect evidences were used to assess its population status and distribution, habitat use, feeding ecology, denning behaviour and wolf-human conflict emanating due to livestock depredation. Intensive ecological and behavioural studies were conducted at Nannaj on one pack between 1991 and 1994. The wolf survives all over the Sanctuary, which is densely populated by humans as elsewhere in its distribution range in India where wolf-human conflicts are common arising either due to livestock depredation or child-lifting. Usually, large packs were present in Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra areas whereas smaller packs inhabited areas not supporting healthy populations of Blackbuck. In Blackbuck poor areas, the wolf survived mainly on livestock. The Sanctuary supports 40-58 wolves. The wolves had a seasonal pattern of habitat use related to movement of prey and livestock. Wolves selected those areas as rendezvous sites which had higher prey density, vegetation cover, minimum human disturbance and were located close to water source. On an average wolves consumed 3.68 (S.E.=0.17) kg/wolf/kill and kill periodicity was 3.65 days (S.E.=0.58). Wolves preyed largely on blackbuck during the non-breeding period and livestock during denning period. Predation was higher on male blackbuck than females despite female biased sex ratio. The average litter size of three packs was recorded to be 5 (range 4-6). The dominant male and female wolves guarded the dens more often than the helpers. They used multiple dens for raising pups that were excavated and/or renewed during denning period. Important conservation problems of wolf have also been discussed in the paper.

The dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, southern Western Ghats, India

The odonate diversity of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, southern Western Ghats (WG) of Kerala state, is discussed in this paper. A total of 181 species belonging to 87 genera and 14 families have been compiled for Kerala and this includes 68 Western Ghats endemics. A total of 116 species of odonates including 33 endemics were recorded for the region. A total of 41 damselflies (Zygoptera) and 75 dragonflies (Anisoptera) were recorded for the sanctuary. Shendurney thus harbours 56.04 % of WG and 64.08 % of the odonate diversity of Kerala. In addition, this includes 48.52% of Kerala and 41.25 % of endemic odonates of Western Ghats. About 29% of all the species recorded for the Shendurney are endemic to WG. With respect to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, one species is ‘Endangered’, three ‘Vulnerable’, two ‘Near Threatened’, 84 ‘Least Concern’, 20 ‘Data Deficient’, and six species whose IUCN Red List status was not assessed. Family Libellulidae (41 species) dominated the odonate diversity, followed by Coenagrionidae (15 species) and Gomphidae (13 species). Regarding the occurrence status, we found that 11 species were Very Common, 42 species were found to be Common, 34 species Not Rare, 10 species were Rare, and 19 species were Very Rare inside the sanctuary. None of the species listed is protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana state, India

A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana, India including accepted English name, scientific name along with authority, Telugu and vernacular name, IUCN, Indian Wildlife Protection Act and CITES status, and endemicity is presented in this paper. The herpetofauna diversity of Telangana is represented by 98 species including 16 species of amphibians belonging to four families, one species of crocodile, six species of testudines, 35 species of saurians and 40 species of snakes. Three species—Hemidactylus flavicaudus, H. xericolus, and H. aemulus—are endemic to Telangana.

Butterfly fauna (insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) and larval host plant in Bongaon town, West Bengal, India

An appraisal of butterfly species diversity was carried out in the suburban town of Bongaon, southern West Bengal, India whose butterfly faunal diversity remained undocumented. A total of 76 species of butterflies were recorded from October 2018 to October 2019. The highest number of butterflies were recorded belonging to the family Nymphalidae (27 species), followed by Lycaenidae (21 species), Hesperiidae (13 species), Pieridae (8 species) and Papilionidae (7 species). Among the 76 butterfly species that have been recorded, nine species come under the protection category as per the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Over the study period, 54 species of larval host plants were also documented. This communication will be the first comprehensive work on butterflies of Bongaon town and serve as baseline data for future research on the butterfly.

Diet of the Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) in dry scrubland of north Gujarat, India

Indian fox Vulpes bengalensis, a mesocarnivore of the Indian subcontinent, is distributed widely in all kinds of habitats in India except the Western Ghats. The Indian fox prefers semi-arid landscapes with low rainfall where it is easy to hunt and dig dens and where the vegetation is mainly short grasslands or scrub, thorn thickets or dry deciduous forests. They mostly avoid dense forests, steep terrain, tall grasslands, and true deserts. The Indian fox is listed as of Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN and legally protected in India under schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972. An opportunistic and omnivorous feeder, its diet includes insects, scorpions, centipedes, small rodents, monitor lizards and other reptiles, ground nesting birds, their eggs and fruit such as Ziziphus sp. (Rhamnaceae), Citrullus vulgaris (Cucurbitaceae), Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Syzigium cumini (Myrtaceae), Melia azedarach (Meliaceae), and Ficus bengalensis (Moraceae). Some local shepherds have also reported seeing Indian foxes feed on the freshly voided pellets of sheep. Their presence and density in any area is closely related to the abundance of food.