VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

STRENGTHENING OF WILDLIFE DIVISION AND CONSULTANCIES

• Under this Centrally Sponsored Scheme the infrastructural and conservational requirements of the Wildlife Division are met. This Division handles the works of the four sub-ordinate offices of the Deputy Directors, Wildlife Preservation located at Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi, with their supporting offices at Amritsar, Guwahati and Cochin.
• The function of these offices is to monitor and take measures to check the international trade in wildlife and wildlife articles passing through the ports of entry into and exit from the country. Besides, research proposals from independent research agencies and institutions on applied aspects of wildlife conservation, are also
  provided support from this head.
• There are 10 ongoing research projects, dealing mainly with applied wildlife conservation undertaken by various organizations including the BNHS (4), Institute of Environment Education and Research, Pune (1), University of Patna (1), Garhwal University (1), Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (1), Gene Campaign (1) and the Chilika Development Authority (1). The subjects covered relate to wildlife habitats in the Dangs, Rajaji National Park, Western Ghats, ecological studies on the Gangetic Dolphin, Irravady Dolphin, forest spotted owlet, vultures, spot-billed pelican, endangered wildlife in West Bengal and genetic diversity in the Western Ghats.
• The duration of research projects varies between one year and three years and the total support asked for is Rs 88.34 lakhs. Nine more are in the pipeline. Organization of meetings, workshops, events, awards, etc., is also covered under this scheme. An amount of Rs 10 crores is provided as outlay for this Scheme for the X Five Year Plan.