The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently unveiled the Wildlife (Transactions and Taxidermy) Rules, 2024. These rules aim to regulate the acquisition, possession, and trade of specified animals and animal articles, as well as the taxidermy process.
According to these rules, any licensee intending to acquire, receive, or keep specified animals or animal articles, trophies, uncured trophies, or meat derived therefrom must obtain prior permission from the authorized officer. The application for such permission must be submitted in Form I, and upon receipt, the Chief Wildlife Warden will assess the request within fifteen days, ensuring that the acquisition is lawful.
Furthermore, licensees granted permission must promptly report the stocks of specified animals or articles to the Chief Wildlife Warden using Form III within seven days of acquisition. The Chief Wildlife Warden may then affix identification marks on these stocks.
Licensed dealers are prohibited from selling or offering for sale any specified animals or articles without authorization from the Chief Wildlife Warden. Permission to purchase must be sought through Form IV, and upon approval, a voucher (Form V) will be issued, valid for one month from the date of issue. Each sale must be accompanied by a voucher containing specific details as outlined in the rules.
In the realm of taxidermy, licensed taxidermists or manufacturers must issue vouchers to owners returning trophies or animal articles. These vouchers, as outlined in Form VI, must be maintained in triplicate, with duplicate copies submitted monthly to the Chief Wildlife Warden.
Transportation of specified animals or articles within the state requires prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, applied for through Form VII. Upon receipt, the Chief Wildlife Warden will assess the request within seven days and grant permission if deemed appropriate.
These rules aim to ensure responsible and lawful practices concerning wildlife transactions, taxidermy, and transportation, ultimately contributing to the conservation and protection of India’s diverse wildlife heritage.
