Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Schedule I Protection and Elephant Corridors
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is India's principal legislation for wildlife conservation. The Asian elephant is listed in Schedule I, which affords the highest level of protection — offences against Schedule I species carry the most severe penalties. The Act also provides for the establishment of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves. The 2022 amendment to the Act introduced significant changes including rationalisation of schedules and enhanced penalties.
- Schedule I (highest protection): Includes tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, lion, snow leopard, among others
- Section 38L: Establishes the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — no equivalent statutory body exists exclusively for elephants
- Elephant corridors are not formally protected under the Act; they rely on administrative notification by state governments
- 2022 Amendment: Reduced species schedules from six to four, increased penalties, and introduced provisions for invasive alien species management
- The Act distinguishes between National Parks (no human activity, Section 35) and Wildlife Sanctuaries (limited human activity permitted, Section 26A)
● Tracked since February 14, 2026 · last seen August 02, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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