Madhya Pradesh STSF Seizes Exotics

• 29 May 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) seized an iguana and an emperor scorpion during a raid in Dewas district. This action marks the first enforcement of Rule 49 M of the amended Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

• Section 49 M provides for the registration of possession, transfer, and reporting of birth and death of living scheduled animal species listed in the Appendices of CITES and Schedule IV of the Act.

Key Points

• Both species are categorized in Appendix II of Schedule IV of the WPA 1972 and CITES regulations, necessitating particular permits for trading and keeping in captivity.
  • The saved animals are presently being kept safe at the Kamala Nehru Zoological Museum in Indore.
• This incident coincides with the recent introduction of the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules 2024 requires online registration of ownership, birth, and death of CITES-listed animals on the PARIVESH portal by August 31, 2024.
  • Failure to comply will lead to legal consequences.

Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024

• Key Provisions:
  • It states that all persons possessing a living specimen of any of the listed animal species are required to apply for registrations of such possession within a period of six months from the date of commencement of these rules and thereafter within 30 of coming into possession of such animal species to the concerned State Chief Wildlife Warden, through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal.
    • These species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
    • This registration requirement also applies to any transfer of the animals or birth of offspring from them, with the Rule prescribing the process for such registration.

PARIVESH Portal

• PARIVESH is a web-based application which has been developed for online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities.