Wildlife Stock Rules, 2003

By virtue of the power under section 40 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the Central Government has issued the Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rules, 2003 which came into effect on April 18, 2003. The Rules empower the Chief Wildlife Warden to accept application from a person who has the control, custody or possession of captive animal and / or its offspring bred in captivity of an animal specified in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Sub Clause (2) of Clause 3 of the Rules provide that the Chief Wildlife Warden or the officer authorized by the state government in this regard shall take the necessary action to assist the local community and individuals specially the poor and the illiterate in the declaration of their possession. For filling up the specified form and any other matter connected therewith and shall ensure that no individual or community associated with animals is deprived of this opportunity. The Rules provide that the application shall be presented within a period of 180 days from the date of the publication of the notification.

Clause 11 provides that the Chief Wildlife Warden shall provide a certificate of ownership to the applicant whose claim is found valid. Further sub clause (3) of Clause 11 provides that the certificate of ownership shall contain the facsimile of the ownership identification mark and in the case of live animal the identification number of the transponder (microchip) implanted shall be mentioned in the certificate.

However, Clause 12 provides that any captive animal declared under sub section (1) of Section 40 A and in respect of which certificate of ownership has not been granted or obtained, shall be treated as government property.