---
title: "Wildlife Protection Act 1972 — Definition & Meaning"
description: "The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is India's law for protecting wild animals, birds, and plants, crucial for biodiversity conservation and regulation."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/wildlife-protection-act-1972"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is the central Indian statute that protects wild animals, birds and plants and regulates hunting, trade and the management of protected areas.
- What constitutional provisions support the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?
- What bodies does the Act establish?
- What did the 2022 amendment change?
- How do conservation reserves and community reserves differ from sanctuaries?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2022, India's Parliament passed the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act to reduce the Schedules from six to four and bring the statute into line with CITES, while the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau intensified action against pangolin trafficking.

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