With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements : 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is A, 1 and 2. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, wild animals belong to the government and a protected animal is protected everywhere, but mere fear of danger does not justify killing it. Section 39 of the Act declares wild animals, with their trophies and products, to be government property, so statement 1 is correct. The protection given to a scheduled animal does not depend on where it is found: hunting it is an offence inside or outside a national park or sanctuary, so statement 2 is correct. Statement 3 is wrong. Section 11 allows the Chief Wildlife Warden to permit the capture or killing of such an animal only when satisfied, with reasons in writing, that it has actually become dangerous to human life, and capture or relocation must be tried first. A mere apprehension is not enough. So option B is wrong because it leaves out statement 1, and options C and D are wrong because they include statement 3. Exam tip: Section 39 = government property; Section 11 = only the Chief Wildlife Warden can allow killing a dangerous animal.