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BAN on performing animals:

Notification of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

The Wildlife (Protection) Act

Powers of Central Government

Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rules

The Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992 (Central Zoo Authority)

Law & Conservation Status of Sloth Bears

Sloth bear trade study

WTI has partnered with WSPA to collect trade information in the key sloth bear distribution states. Information from some states revealed that various methods are being used to capture and to kill sloth bears in the wild – by laying traps, poisoning or by shooting with rifles. Different body parts of the animal are extracted such as gall bladder, skin, hair, claws and meat etc. – some used in traditional medicines and are sold in illegal markets. Past seizures of their body parts, information on poaching and human–bear conflicts in few sloth bear distribution areas have been documented to plan for appropriate interventions.

 

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In India, sloth bears are protected under various provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and rules and notifications enacted by the central and state governments.
For effective enforcement of the law, which could end the ongoing exploitation of sloth bears, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in partnership with the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA) is working jointly with various state governments under the Integrated Sloth Bear Conservation and Welfare Project (ISBCW).

On their way to rehabilitation

With this aim, a joint monitoring mechanism with the law enforcement agencies has been planned to check and to control illegal capture of sloth bears in the wild. Studies have been initiated in several states to collect information on sloth bear trade and to identify areas where poaching of sloth bears have been prevalent.

Other key objectives are to identify the present distribution range of sloth bears, to help the enforcement agencies in conducting seizures and to strengthen the prosecution against the offenders. Frontline forest guards in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries will be trained and equipped to tackle wildlife crime.

Some of these parks and sanctuaries include:

  • Rajgir WLS
  • Gautaum Buddha WLS
  • Bhimbandh WLS,
  • Kaimur WLS
  • Badalkhol WLS
  • Guru Ghasi Das NP
  • Semarsot WLS
  • Palamau Tiger Reserve
  • Hazaribagh WLS
  • Koderma WLS
  • Topchanchi WLS
  • Barnawapara WLS
  • Tamor Pingla WLS
  • Gomarda WLS
  • Achanakmar WLS
  • Bhoramdev WLS
  • Sanjay Dubri WLS
  • Sanjay NP
  • Son Gharial WLS
  • Panpatha WLS
  • Bandhavgarh NP