In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

1. It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
2. It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection, and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
3. It is endemic to a particular region of India.
4. Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Schedule I of the Act offers stringent protection to endangered species, such as the tiger, Clouded Leopard, Black Buck, Snow Leopard, and others. If a tortoise species is listed under Schedule I, it enjoys the same high level of protection as the tiger.
• Note: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was amended in 2022, affecting the classification of wild animals. Earlier, there were six schedules, which were streamlined into four after the amendment.
  • Schedule I: Animal species that receive the highest level of protection, including critically endangered species
  • Schedule II: Animal species that receive a lower level of protection
  • Schedule III: Protected plant species
  • Schedule IV: Specimens listed in the Appendices under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Answer: (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger; Difficulty Level: Hard