Union environment ministry declares Rhesus Macaque monkeys as vermin in Himachal Pradesh

The Union environment ministry has recently declared Rhesus Macaque monkeys as vermin in Himachal Pradesh for a period of one year & allow the state forest department to cull them for preventing crop depredation, conflict with humans and loss of property. Though Rhesus Macaque monkeys are protected species under Schedule II of the Wildilfe Protection Act of 1972, the law allows for it to be hunted by declaring it ‘vermin’ for a specific period if it poses a danger to human life or property. The section 62 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 empowers the states to send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.