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Who is a Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
No one in the world needs a Rhino horn but a Rhino ~ Paul Oxton
The wildlife enforcement officer is a professional responsible for enforcing laws on matters of wildlife and natural resources. A wildlife enforcement officer works in a less populated area, unlike other law enforcement officers who work in populated areas. A wildlife enforcement officer is required to be equipped with both skills and equipment. He or she is often requires to deal with hunters, poachers, trappers, hikers and several others involved in the illegal activity. A wildlife enforcement officer’s work responsibility requires him or her to survey and keep a watch over natural assets. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to become wildlife enforcement officer.
Wildlife Enforcement Officer in a Nutshell
A wildlife enforcement officer is a professional responsible for enforcing laws in the areas of wilderness populations such as national parks, forests, and conservation areas. He or she spends his most of the time in patroling to prevent illegal activity such as hunting and poaching in the conservation areas. A wildlife enforcement officer is also responsible for providing assistance and help to other individuals in odd situations in dense forests.
Quick Facts for Wildlife Enforcement Officer
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Industry
Environment
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Average Salary in India
₹47333.33
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Suitable for
Male, Female
The career as a wildlife enforcement officer is suitable for everyone regardless of their gender identity. It is a myth that a wildlife enforcement officer is not suitable for women. Candidates having passion and curiosity for wildlife conservation can establish a successful career as wildlife enforcement officers whether they are men or women.
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Any special needs
No
We would say career as a wildlife enforcement officer is not suitable for candidates with special needs. It requires staying outdoors, patrolling in forests in various weather conditions. A wildlife enforcement officer spends most of his or her time in the field. Candidates with special needs find it difficult to travel for hours on a daily basis.
Table of Contents for Wildlife Enforcement Officer
What is the role of Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
A wildlife enforcement officer is a professional responsible for the enforcement of laws in the conservation areas, nature reserves, and parks. He or she provides assistance and help to visitors in odd or unlikely situations. A wildlife enforcement officer saves animals found in traps. He or she spends most of his or her working hours in patroling the conservation areas. A wildlife enforcement officer keeps a count on wildlife. He or she may be involved in conducting surveys of the area, documentation of wilderness population, and developing policies. A wildlife officer checks the hunting license of individuals. He or she is required to ensure the protection of wildlife, proper administration, and land management of the conservation area, nature reserves, and parks. So how to become a wildlife enforcement officer and what does it take to become one?
Patroling
Wildlife enforcement officers are responsible for patroling the nature reserves, national parks, forests and sanctuaries to conduct a survey of wildlife, oversee the activities in areas, prevent hunters, poachers and other visitors to move freely in the area.
Enforcement of laws
A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for ensuring that rules and regulations are followed in compliance with the standards of the forestry department. He or she enforces conservation laws. A wildlife enforcement officer checks hunting, fishing and other conservation licenses. He or she is responsible for setting the measures for hunting and fishing in the conservation area. A wildlife enforcement officer enforces limits for hunting and fishing.
Investigation
A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for investigating and gathering evidence on wildlife crimes. He or she conducts inspections of the property to identify possible wildlife infractions. A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for identifying and arresting individuals who committed wildlife crimes in the protected areas.
Types of a Wildlife Enforcement Officer
Marine Patrol Officer: A marine patrol officer is responsible for ensuring the safety of boaters and other individuals. The individuals come to enjoy water skiing, jet skiing, rafting, swimming and fishing in lakes, ponds and seas. A marine patrol officer helps in enforcing conservation laws related to fishing and licensure of boater safety.
Wildlife Educator: A wildlife educator is a professional involved in teaching wildlife conservation in high schools and colleges. He or she is responsible for teaching the major subjects such as environmental science, biology, behaviour, ecology, disease, toxicology, conservation strategies and numerous other related subjects.
Wildlife Biologist: A wildlife biologist is a science professional involved in the observation and study of animal behaviour. He or she observes the features of wildlife to determine their role in the ecosystem. A wildlife biologist is responsible for performing experiments in wildlife species to feed their appetite of curiosity.
What is the workplace/work environment of Wildlife Enforcement Officer like?
A career as wildlife enforcement officer requires them to spend most of their working hours patrolling forests, wooded areas, and other nature conservation areas. They are involved in fieldwork. Wildlife enforcement officers are required to work in a variety of environments such as inclement weather, undesirable conditions, extreme cold. Several wildlife enforcement officers can also serve dual roles as marine patrol officers and woods patrol officers. Are you looking for information about how to become wildlife enforcement officer? To clear your questions, scroll and read.
Does Wildlife Enforcement Officer require travelling?
Likely
A career as wildlife enforcement officer requires them to spend most of their work hours traveling. They are involved in fieldwork. Wildlife enforcement officers work outside in various environments.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
A career as wildlife enforcement officer requires working full-time. Part-time, hourly basis, on-call or work from home employment is not available in this career. No, the career as a wildlife enforcement officer does not fall into a certain shift. He or she usually works from early morning to late evenings. They are often required to stay outside at night while patrolling as traveling in the dark could be harmful.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
A career as a wildlife enforcement officer have opportunities in employment on both contractual as well as permanent basis. The contractual term entirely depends on the requirement of the organisation. The duration of the contractual term could get extended depending on the work performance of the wildlife enforcement officer.
Work Place
On-Field
A career as a wildlife enforcement officer requires working on the field. He or she patrols in the forest. A wildlife enforcement officer spends most of the working hours supervising the wild population in the forest area. A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for enforcing the conservation and environmental law to protect wildlife from illegal hunting, poaching and keeping a track of activities in the areas reserved for fauna and flora species.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural
Nature reserves with forests and wildlife provide promising opportunities for a career as wildlife enforcement officer. Uttarakhand, Gujarat, West Bengal has tracts of forest lands and national park thus the states’ government appoints wildlife enforcement officers to oversee the land management to avoid exploitation of natural resources, wildlife and plants.
Time Pressure
Likely
Wildlife officers make sure to come back before it gets dark, once it gets dark during patroling they are required to stay outside. Traveling in the dark is not safe in forests.
Overtime Details
In a career as a wildlife enforcement officer mostly wildlife enforcement officers work more than standard hours. While they survey wildlife in forests, nature reserves and parks, it may require them to stay outside for a longer period of time.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
There are not any fixed hours in a career as wildlife enforcement officer. They usually work a minimum of 40 hours per week. A wildlife enforcement officer may be required to stay outside in the field if it gets darker while patrolling in the woods.
How to become a Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
Steps to become a Wildlife Enforcement Officer
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
When it comes to how to become wildlife enforcement officer, the first thing that they should know about is the skills required to become a wildlife enforcement officer. Some of the essential skills we have mentioned below.
Interpersonal skills: A wildlife enforcement officer has to deal with numerous individuals on a daily basis in order to enforce laws. He or she has to confront encounters that are required to de-escalate. It is a job that requires assisting and helping others who might be in dangerous circumstances and have forgotten the path.
Problem Solving Skills: Wildlife, visitors, and hunters may find themselves caught in dangerous circumstances or odd situations. A wildlife enforcement officer is responsible for rectifying their problems by analysing options for solutions. He or she is responsible for resolving their queries and problems with an accurate and efficient solution.
Physical Fitness: A wildlife enforcement officer must be physically fit and active. He or she should be able to walk, climb and swim for extended periods. A wildlife enforcement officer is often required to deal with odd situations while patrolling in the parks, protected areas. He or she is required to be equipped with skills and equipment as they are likely to confront illegal hunters and poachers.
Passion for nature: A wildlife enforcement officer has to spend most of the time patrolling in the woods. Being an admirer of nature makes him or her do well in the job. A curiosity to explore nature makes a wildlife enforcement officer patrol in the dense forests.
Also read - Career as forester
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt for who want to establish a career as Wildlife Enforcement Officer.
Internship Availability
Internship plays a crucial role as it builds the ground for individuals to establish a successful career. Candidates can get industry insights and learn about the functioning of the industry through internships. A wildlife enforcement intern gets practical exposure through internships. He or she receives practical training and experience on conservation laws. The intern is required to provide assistance to law enforcement division with boat patrolling duties, pre-launch of safety checks, administrative and educating duties. An intern is responsible for providing assistance in the area of public safety, wildlife conservation, boat and safari patrolling.
Career Path Progression for Wildlife Enforcement Officer
Wildlife enforcement officers find it difficult to get any alternative employment opportunity due to early retirement and natural attrition.
The wildlife enforcement officer is a federal officer. The selection process is carried out through UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exams in India. The candidates are required to qualify for UPSC exams and opt for IFS (Indian Forest Services) to establish a career as a wildlife enforcement officer. Every year thousands of candidates appear in UPSC exams in which only six to seven thousand candidates are selected. Therefore, there is extremely strong competition in the entry-level for the job role of the wildlife enforcement officer.
Wildlife Enforcement Officer Jobs
Conservation Officer: Conservation officers are federal officers responsible for the enforcement of state and federal laws in order to protect natural resources from exploitation.
Forest Manager: A forest manager is a professional responsible for planning, directing and administering programmes for the management of forest lands. He or she is responsible for overseeing the implementation of forestry management techniques such as prescribed planting, burning, thinning, harvesting in order to improve the health and productivity of forests.
Wildlife Manager: A wildlife manager is a federal officer who handles public land. He or she is responsible for supervising hunting and poaching on land. A wildlife manager keeps track of the animal population on the land. He or she ensures that wild animals get their natural habitat and adequate food supply. He or she collects data for research so it can be used to prepare aid for wildlife management.
Wildlife Enforcement Officer Jobs and Salaries
Wildlife Manager
- Average Salary 50000
- Starting Salary 20000
- Junior Level Salary 20000
- Senior Level Salary 60000
Job Description
A wildlife manager is a federal officer who handles public land. He or she is responsible for supervising hunting and poaching on land. A wildlife manager keeps track of the animal population on the land. He or she ensures that wild animals get their natural habitat and adequate food supply. He or she collects data for research so it can be used to prepare aid for wildlife management.
Conservation Officer
Permanent
- Average Salary 50000
- Starting Salary 20000
- Junior Level Salary 20000
- Senior Level Salary 60000
Job Description
Conservation officers spend most of their time working in fields. They are required to patrol areas assigned to them. They are involved in patrolling by foot, vehicle, boat or other means. Conservation officers are required to interact with terrain visitors, hunters, poachers and other people wandering in the field. They are required to be trained in the handling of the firearm.
Salary Description
The salary varies depending on skills and work experience. The size of the organisation and area where it is located also affects the salary. An entry-level conservation officer employed by an NGO can earn up to Rs. 250,000 per annum. A senior-level conservation officer could earn more than Rs. 600,000 per annum.
Forest Manager
Permanent
- Average Salary 42000
- Starting Salary 31000
- Junior Level Salary 31000
- Senior Level Salary 53000
Job Description
A forest manager is involved in planning or directing forest operations such as planting, pruning, tree harvesting and forest growth measurement. He or she manages forestry contractors that carry out forest operations. A forest manager is responsible for managing the business. He or she is involved in marketing and negotiating log sales.
Salary Description
The salary varies depending on skills and work experience of candidates. An entry-level forest manager could earn more than Rs. 400,000 per annum. A senior-level forest manager could earn more than Rs. 600,000 per annum.
What is the job outlook for Wildlife Enforcement Officer?
There is an average growth in the number of jobs of wildlife enforcement officers. There has been a slight improvement over the years in the recruitment of wildlife officers over the years. But due to COVID-19, there is a delay in UPSC examinations that will further result in results and selection of wildlife enforcement officers.
Frequently Asked Questions for Wildlife Enforcement Officer
Que. What is the average fee of the B.Sc. Environmental Sciences full-time?
Ans.The fee varies from institution to institution. Private colleges charge a hefty amount of fees while government colleges charge an economical fee amount. The average fee for the programme B.Sc. Environmental Sciences range Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 300,000 for the duration of three years.
Que. Which are the specialisations one could consider to establish a career wildlife enforcement officer?
Ans.There are numerous specialisations that ensure a career as a wildlife enforcement officer. One could opt for any of the below-mentioned specialisations. Forestry, wildlife management, botany, biology, plant pathology, natural science, wildlife science, and criminal justice.
Que. What is the average salary of a naturalist?
Ans.The salary varies depending on the skills and work experience of candidates. The average salary of a naturalist is Rs. 600,000 per annum in India.
Que. What are the other alternative professions one could opt for?
Ans.There are numerous other related professions in the field of wildlife and forestry. Candidates can opt for either of the role mentioned below. Forest manager, wildlife manager, naturalist, environmental lawyer, conservation officer, wildlife biologist, wildlife educator, GIS specialists and numerous other job roles.
Que. What is the eligibility criteria for Indian Forest Services?
Ans.The candidates must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree or would be appearing in bachelor’s degree examinations of any of the below-mentioned specialisations. Wildlife management, animal husbandry, veterinary science, botany, chemistry, geology, zoology, statistics, physics, agriculture, forestry or engineering. The candidates sound not less than 21 years or more than 32 years of age on August 1 of the said year when the candidate is appearing for UPSC exams. On several conditions, the candidates can get relaxation on the upper age limit.
Que. What are the wildlife law enforcement degree programmes?
Ans.There are several specific programmes with specialisations in wildlife law. The major wildlife law enforcement degree programmes are:
L.L.M. (Master of Legislative Law) Environmental Law
L.L.M. (Master of Legislative Law) Natural Resources Law
L.L.M. (Master of Legislative Law) International Environmental Law
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