To boost conservation, Delhi expands wildlife inspector posts

New Delhi: Delhi govt has approved the creation of nine posts of wildlife inspector in the Department of Forests and Wildlife, a major step to strengthen wildlife conservation and enforcement in the city.

Until now, Delhi had only one sanctioned wildlife inspector, posted at the department’s headquarters. The absence of dedicated inspectors in the four field divisions had severely constrained field-level enforcement, prevention of illegal activities, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and biodiversity management.

In a statement, the govt said the move reflects its commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection amid growing urban environmental challenges. The Recruitment Rules for Wildlife Inspectors have been amended with the approval of the lieutenant governor and notified through a gazette notification.

Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the decision marks a long-overdue reform in environmental governance. “Deploying wildlife inspectors across Delhi’s field divisions equips our teams to safeguard wildlife, curb poaching and proactively resolve conflicts,” he said.

The induction of nine wildlife inspectors is expected to significantly enhance the department’s capacity in wildlife protection, prevention of illegal activities, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and biodiversity management across the city, Delhi govt said, calling it a major step towards strengthening institutions for sustainable urban ecosystems.