In 1972, the Government of India brought into force the Wildlife (Protection) Act to provide for the protection of animals and birds. This Act was amended in January 2003 and is now referred to the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002. This is “An Act to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected herewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.”

The Act divides the animal species into five schedules. Provisions for hunting of wild animals in the Act are listed under section 9 of the Act. Some relevant laws are:-

- No person shall hunt any wild animal specified in Schedule I
- No person shall hunt any animal specified in Schedule II, Schedule III or Schedule IV, except under, and in accordance with the conditions specified in a licence granted under sub-section (5).

“Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder, or who commits a breach of any of the conditions of any licence or permit granted this Act, shall be guilty of an offence against the Act, and shall, on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years, and also with fine which shall not be les than Rs 10000”.

SCHEDULE I
Eleven species of Pheasants are included in Part III of Schedule I to the Act, which means that these species have the highest degree of legal protection. They are Western Tragopan, Satyr Tragopan, Blyth’s Tragopan, Temminck’s Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Sclater’s Monal, Tibetan Eared Pheasant and Cheer Pheasant.

SCHEDULE IV
The remaining 6 species are covered by the general term ‘Pheasants (Phasianidae)’ included in Schedule IV to the Act (S.No. 53). It is to be noted that while the species in Schedule I are specifically named and listed, this is not the position in respect of the remaining 6 species, to which Schedule IV is applicable.

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