Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 (No. 18 of 2022).

This Act amends the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (principal Act). In the long title of the principal Act, the words protection of wild animals, birds and plants are substituted for the words conservation, protection and management of wild life. In section 2, various clauses are amended and clause (16A) is added to define invasive alien species. A new section 6A is inserted after section 6 of the principal Act providing for Standing Committee of the Board. Sections 9, 11, 24, 25, 28, 29, 33 and 34 are amended. In section 35 of the principal Act, sub-sections (3A) and (3B) are inserted. Further, sections 36D, 38, 38-I, 38L are amended and a new section 39X is inserted. The title of chapter IVC is amended and sections 38Y, 39, 40, 40A, 41, 42A, 43 and 49A are amended.
A new chapter VB is added after chapter VA of the principal Act, which regulates international trade as per the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This chapter contains definitions, and the appointment of Management Authority and Scientific Authority. It prohibits trade of scheduled species except as provided under the chapter and lays down conditions for their import and export. Section 49M of the chapter requires every person possessing a living specimen of an animal species listed in Schedule IV to report the details and register with the Management Authority. It also provides for obtaining licence by breeders of certain scheduled species. Further, sections 50, 51, 51A, 54, 55, 57, 61 and 63 of the principal Act are amended and a new section 62A is inserted. The Schedules to the principal Act are also amended.