Individuals in possession of exotic species like soft shell turtles and/or exotic birds like budgerigars and cockatoos, as well as live animals listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will now have to register them with the Wildlife department in their respective States.

The Union Environment Minister has issued a notification in this regard on February 28. This move aims to monitor and track the ownership of these animals, ensuring they receive proper care and preventing illicit trade and exploitation.

The notification, titled the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, was issued by the Ministry on February 28. Under these rules, owners of such pets are required to pay a registration fee of Rs 1000 per animal.

Last year, the Ministry had started regulating the sector engaged in breeding species of various bears and pandas such as the Red Panda, various species of dogs, wolves, cats, apes, chimpanzees, gibbons, lemurs, squirrels, armadillos, various birds including Hornbills, Macaws, Parakeets, Owls, and various reptiles among others. They have been asked to obtain Breeders of Species Licence under the Breeders of Species Licence Rules, 2023 notified on April 24 by the Union Environment Ministry

Now by ensuring registration, the government seeks to strengthen conservation efforts and protect endangered species by maintaining a comprehensive record of their ownership and ensuring they are kept in suitable conditions.

“The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals,” said an official from the Ministry.

He explained that the Act was last amended in 2022 following which the Wild life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 has come into force since 2023 April 1. Section 49 M of the Act provides for registration of possession, transfer and birth and reporting of death of living scheduled animal species which are listed in the Appendices of CITES and as such listed in the Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.