Wildlife Act, 1976

Transport of packages etc. containing certain fauna.

51.—(1) This section applies to any package, parcel, box or other container which contains all or any of the following, namely:

(a) any protected wild bird or protected wild animal,

(b) the dead body, carcase or any other part either of a protected wild bird or protected wild animal,

(c) eggs of a protected wild bird.

(2) Every package, parcel, box or other container to which this section applies shall, if transported, whether by hand or otherwise, be marked conspicuously either on the outside thereof or on a label attached thereto, so as clearly to indicate—

(a) that the package, parcel, box or other container contains protected wild birds or protected wild animals, as may be appropriate, and

(b) the name and address of the consignor.

(3) Any person who consigns or transports a package, parcel, box or other container which is not marked in the manner required by subsection (2) of this section and who knows that the package, parcel, box or other container, as the case may be, contains any thing mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence under this section, it shall be a good defence to show that a package, parcel, box or other container to which the alleged offence relates did not contain at the time of the alleged offence protected wild birds or protected wild animals other than the following, namely, a protected wild bird or an exempted wild mammal lawfully hunted by virtue of an order under section 24 or 25 of this Act or the dead body or any part of such a protected wild bird or exempted wild mammal.