Why in the News?

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) chaired by Union Environment Minister has recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Rhesus Macaque:

• Scientific Name: Macaca mulatta, a species of Old World monkey native to South, Central, and Southeast Asia.
• Distribution: Widest-ranging non-human primate, found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Afghanistan.
• Physical Traits: Brown or grey fur; body length 47–53 cm, tail 20–23 cm, weight 5–8 kg; strong sexual dimorphism.
• Habitat: Highly adaptable; lives in forests, grasslands, riverine zones, agricultural lands, and even urban settlements.
• Behaviour: Diurnal, semi-terrestrial, and social; organised in matrilineal troops (20–200 members) with complex vocal and gestural communication.
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeds on fruits, seeds, roots, cereals, and occasionally invertebrates; uses cheek pouches for temporary food storage.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern, due to wide distribution and high adaptability.
• Legal Reclassification: Previously listed under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972, offering stringent protection against hunting, cruelty, illegal trade, and exploitation. After the 2022 amendments, it was shifted to Schedule IV (mid-level protection category with lesser punishments).
• Scientific Relevance: Extensively used in biomedical research, instrumental in developing polio, rabies, smallpox vaccines, and in HIV/AIDS and neuroscience studies.
• Human Conflict: Increasing crop raids, urban aggression, and food theft; declared vermin in Himachal Pradesh (2019) for selective culling in non-forest zones.

How is the Culling of Vermin allowed in India?

• Definition: Animals declared harmful or nuisance-causing, legally permitted for hunting to safeguard life, crops, or property.
• Legal Provision: Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the Central Government to declare species (excluding Schedule I) as vermin for specific regions and timeframes.
• Earlier Classification: Schedule V (pre-2022) listed vermins such as rats, fruit bats, and common crows.
• 2022 Amendment: Schedule V removed; Centre can now issue direct notifications declaring vermin status.
• Declaration Process:
  • State government submits request citing local damage or risk.
  • MoEFCC evaluates ecological and administrative justification.
  • Centre issues notification for specified region and duration.
• Examples:
  • Wild boar (Uttarakhand, Kerala, Goa)
  • Nilgai (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh)
  • Rhesus macaque (Himachal Pradesh, 2019)
  • Fruit bats and crows (select farming regions)
• Legal Consequence: Once notified, the species loses protection, and hunting incurs no penalty during the declared period.
• Ecological and Ethical Concerns: Risks of ecosystem imbalance and animal cruelty; experts advocate contraception, relocation, and scientific management instead.

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