Legal Protection to Endangered Species: A Comparative Analysis between Indian and International Legal Framework

The advancing rate of species extinction presents one of the most imminent environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. While extinction is a natural evolutionary process, the current surge raises serious ecological, ethical, and legal concerns. This paper examines the legal frameworks designed to protect endangered species at both international and national levels, with particular emphasis on India. It voyages around the regulatory role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in controlling global wildlife trade and analyses the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a model statute for species recovery and habitat protection. At the municipal level, the study critically evaluates India’s principal biodiversity laws, namely the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Biological Diversity Act. The paper shed light on the structural and enforcement related loopholes that undermine conservation objectives and highlights the need for stronger regional cooperation, stricter regulatory enforcement, and enhanced community participation. By adopting a comparative and analytical approach, this paper argues that law remains a critical instrument in biodiversity conservation, but its success depends upon robust enforcement, institutional coordination, and sustained political will. Strengthening legal frameworks and ensuring their effective implementation are essential not only for the protection of endangered species but also for maintaining ecological balance and securing long-term human survival.