This is the first ever comprehensive book on wild life law enforcement in India. It explains the various interpretations and legalities pertaining to Indian wild life laws. The details of the case laws provided offer a better understanding of the procedures involved in the investigation and trial of wild life crimes.

Part I of the book deals with the conceptual topics like evolution and salient features of wild life laws, legal procedures involved in investigation and trials of wild life cases, powers and privileges of forest officers, CITES and its legal enforcement in India, legalities of captive management and legal provisions related to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Part II deals with various provisions and amendments made thereupon under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. These provisions are further elaborated through relevant case laws and commentaries for better understanding of a particular provision. Part III discusses rules, policies, statutes, and guidelines related to wild life law enforcement issued at national and international fora. Part IV of the handbook deals with other related laws such as the Wild Birds and Animals (Protection) Act, 1912, the Elephants Preservation Act, 1879, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The history of conservation in India dates back several centuries – it carries utmost importance in the shastras, epics and other social codes. However the first ever comprehensive legal code was formulated as the Wild Life (Protection) Act, in 1972. The laws related to wildlife enforcement are thus still at an evolving stage.

We urgently need strong wild life law enforcement in India as the laws exist but poor implementation and systemic deterrents restrict effective pro-action. This book delves into a detailed analysis of the laws in place in India – while it explains the laws, the book also provides extensive case studies.

The book will be very useful for Forest officials and staff dealing with various issues in wild life management in the field, forest authorities dealing with various issues in captive management such as Zoo Keeping, transportation and immobilization of animals in distress. This book will further help wild life enforcement agencies, police personnel dealing with prevention, detection, investigation and trial of wild life crimes, customs and other enforcement agencies dealing with enforcement of regulations under international conventions and protocols, individuals, NGOs and other authorities dealing in litigations and writ petitions in the High Courts and the Supreme  Court.

SURENDER MEHRA is a member of the Indian Forest Service (batch of 1999). He graduated as Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra in 1995 and in the same year he was selected for the Indian Engineering Services. In 1999, he joined the IFS.

He received the Uttaranchal State Forestry Award in 2003 for ‘Excellence in Civil Services Reforms’. He completed his PG Diploma in Wild Life Management from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun in 2006-07. He also holds a PG Diploma in Environmental Law from National Law School, Bengaluru.

He has worked as Deputy Conservator of Forests, Haldwani (Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary), Corbett Tiger Reserve and Rajaji National Park & Rudraprayag. He has also worked as faculty at the Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun. In recent years, he worked as Conservator of Forests, Western Circle, Haldwani and Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve.

He has written the First Management Plan of Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary. He successfully conducted the Wild Life Monitoring study in the Western Circle and also authored its report titled ‘Status of Tigers, Habitats and Corridors in Western Circle, Uttarakhand’.

His fields of interest are Wildlife Management, Legal issues in Forests and Wild Life, Information Technology, GIS and Remote Sensing and Wildlife Photography. He has also authored a book titled “Legal Forestry” (2004).

He is currently posted as Deputy Inspector General, National Tiger Conservation Authority, in New Delhi and is also pursuing his Ph.D in Wildlife Sciences from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.