News Context: Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified Wildlife (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules, 2024.
About these Rules:
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- These rules aim to replace Wildlife (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules, 1983.
- The 1983 rules prohibited issuing licences to trade in a wild animal categorised under Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II under Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972.
- Licences were granted in exceptional cases with previous approval of the central government.
- This condition has been changed in 2024 rules.
- New 2024 rules:
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- No such licence shall be granted if it relates to any wild animal specified in Schedule I to the Act, except with previous consultation of Central Government.
- Chief Wildlife Warden or an Authorised Officer issues the licence based on parameters like existing licences and implications of licence on hunting or trade of wild animals concerned etc.
- Impact of New Rules: Might adversely affect mammals and birds enlisted in Schedule II, as some of them are already endangered. Examples: Bulbuls, Falcons, Turtles, Geckos, Snakes, Bats etc.
- Earlier, Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 has reduced the number of Schedules from 6 (as of 1972 act) to 4.
About Wadge Bank Ecosystem:
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KUNO NATIONAL PARK (KNP)
News Context: Recently, a Namibian cheetah translocated to KNP under Project Cheetah, gave birth to 4 cubs.
About Kuno National Park:
- Location: In Madhya Pradesh and is a part of Central Indian Vindhyan Hills. o Forest: Dry Deciduous.
- River: Kuno river is main source of water.
- Flora: Mainly dominated by Kardhai, Salai, Khair trees, along with vast grasslands.
- Fauna: Spotted deer, Chousingha, Nilgai, Black buck, Leopard, Wild dog or Dhole, etc.