Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (No. 53 of 1972).

The text of the Act is divided into fourteen chapter: Preliminary (I); Authorities to be Appointed or Constituted Under the Act (II); Hunting of Wild Animals (III); Protection of Specified Plants (IIIA); Sanctuaries, National Parks and Closed Areas (IV); Central Zoo Authority and Recognition of Zoos Trade (IVA); National Tiger Conservation Authority (IVB); Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (IVC); Trade or Commerce in Wild Animals, Animal Articles and Trophies (V); Prohibition of Trade or Commerce in Trophies, Animal Articles, etc., derived from certain Animals (VA); Regulation of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as per Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (VB); Prevention and Detection of Offences Miscellaneous (VI); Forfeiture of Property Derived from Illegal Hunting and Trade (VIA); Miscellaneous (VII).
The Central Government may, for the purpose of this Act, appoint a Director of Wild Life Preservation under section 3 and a Chief Wild Life Warden and wild Life wardens under section 4. The States shall constitute Wild Life Advisory Boards under section 6. Picking, uprooting cultivating, or dealing, etc. in plants specified under sections 17 A and following. Cultivation of specified plants shall be notified. The State Government may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute any area other than an area comprised within any reserve forest or the territorial waters as a sanctuary if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphologic, natural or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life or its environment (sect. 18). Section 25 provides for proceedings to acquire rights in land for conservation purposes. The Central Government shall constitute a body to be known as the Central Zoo Authority. Its functions include identification of endangered species of wild animals for purposes of captive breeding.
Chapter VB 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.