New guidelines for import of exotic species-THE HINDU-11-06-2020

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The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has issued an advisory saying people importing “exotic live species” will have to make a voluntary disclosure. The Ministry has said “exotic live species” shall be construed to mean only “the animals named under the Appendices I, II and III of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.


“This move is going to be a disabler in the business of wildlife trade. Exotics are a major problem for us because of invasive species and possible ecological imbalance if they are released in the wild,” said Jose Louise, who heads the wildlife crime prevention unit for the Wildlife Trust of India.

He said so far the forest officers had no control over pet shops because the owners say they are not Indian species and hence not protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.