Environment Ministry restores special protection level to Rhesus Macaque

It is a split down the middle with six state governments supporting the move, other six states and a Union Territory voting against it while two are neutral and others have not found time to respond to the question whether the Rhesus Macaque or the Indian monkey should be given back special protection under wildlife laws or stay relegated to a lower rung safety net given the high human-monkey conflict rate.

But the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) Standing Committee, in its October 29 meeting, answered the question, ruling that statutory Schedule II protection should be restored to the species to protect it from "illegal capture, trade and cruelty." After relooking at the issue, following representations and views from states, it has been assessed that bringing the Rhesus Macaque under Schedule II would offer greater "administrative flexibility" for implementing management intervention and conservation actions at state and local level.

Chairman of NBWL panel and environment minister Bhupender Yadav has called for site-specific management and conservation plans for the Indian monkey along with strengthening of rescue and rehabilitation centres to handle conflict situations and facilitate care for the injured/displaced. It was also agreed that a baseline study be conducted across states and scientific management measures be brought in with WII guidance, besides establishment of rescue centres.


Schedule switch rethink

Stripped off the Schedule II protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, after 2022 amendments, the Rhesus Macaque was moved down to the lower order Schedule IV species list. While Schedule II status guaranteed more stringent protection to the primate making it illegal to hunt or trade the animals, once delisted and brought to Schedule IV status, any case of cruelty against the animal was subject to prosecution under the less strict Prevention of Cruelty Act.

The weakened legal safeguards were strongly opposed by animal rights activists as well as the other animal welfare organisations.

Opinions were sought from all states and six states have advocated reinstatement of protection to the Indian monkey, namely Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and even Himachal Pradesh which has faced "significant human-Rhesus Macaque conflict". Seven states, including Assam, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, UP, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and the UT of J&K have opposed it. Tamil Nadu and Nagaland were neutral to it while remaining states are yet to come up with a view.

The monkey question, in fact, has led to another human-wildlife conflict concern involving the leopard. Taking note of the situation, Bhupender Yadav has directed that all states identify and categorise areas with human-leopard conflicts and submit management proposals in consultations with the Wildlife Institute of India.