Wild Animals Law (CAP. 51).

The Wild Animals Law (Cap. 151) is designed to regulate the control, conservation, and management of wild animals. It establishes categories of animals as prohibited, specially protected, and protected, restricting hunting or possession without official licenses or permissions, except for scientific or essential administrative purposes. The law empowers the Commissioner and Game Wardens to enforce rules, create game reserves and sanctuaries, and declare close seasons for wildlife protection. It bans harmful hunting practices such as poisoning, using explosives, vehicles, or aircraft to hunt or disturb animals, and strictly regulates possession of trophies. Animals or parts found (like tusks or horns) must be reported, as they belong to the government. Exceptions exist for killing animals in defense of life or property, or when authorized for necessity. The law also provides powers of search, seizure, and arrest for enforcement officers, sets penalties for violations, and allows regulations to be made for licensing, trophy fees, and wildlife ranching. Overall, it balances wildlife protection with controlled, lawful use under government oversight. The text consists of 54 Articles and 3 Schedules.
The Schedules classify species by protection level: the First Schedule lists prohibited animals (e.g. elephants, rhinos, large carnivores) that cannot be hunted or possessed under any circumstances except rare official exemptions; the Second Schedule covers specially protected animals, which may only be taken with a special license due to their vulnerability; and the Third Schedule includes more common protected animals that may be hunted under a regular game license but still require registration of trophies. Together, these schedules provide a clear legal framework for regulating hunting, possession, and conservation of wildlife.