The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to respond to a PIl seeking a national policy to save endangered wildlife species like Great Indian Bustard, Indian Wolf and Snow leopard by enhancing their genetic pool.
Besides, the petition has also talked of a comprehensive policy to avoid man-animal conflict which results in deaths of elephants and other animals on highways and railway tracks passing through forests, national parks.
Giving four weeks time to respond to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud said, “The response of the two Ministries is important to decide the petition.”
According to the petition filed by Vidya Athreya, an environment conservationist, there was an urgent need to have a policy in place to preserve the endangered species of animals. Senior advocate Shyam Divan who argued the petition said that these species are almost getting extinct and there is an urgent need to enhance their genetic pool before they disappear.
On the second issue of man-animal conflict, Divan submitted to the Court that increasingly animals tend to stray from their natural habitat either due to climate change or if a road or railway track crosses the natural track of the animal.
Divan said, “For animals like elephants, tigers the boundaries set by national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are not enough. There is a need to protect their corridor when they leave the forest.”
The petitioner gave a suggestion that either the roads need to be fenced till a reasonable height to avoid straying of animals on to the roads, introduce speed restrictions by creating bumps or road signs indicating presence of animals along certain tracks of roads and railway lines, or construct underpass and elevated roads for traffic.
“This has to be built into the road and rail design from the very beginning.”
The petitioner said in the coming days, climate change will pose a serious challenge as more and more wild animals will be forced to migrate out of their natural homes.