Monkey Rehabilitation Centre | 21 Dec 2020

A rescue and rehabilitation centre for monkeys(Primate) was opened recently in Telangana.

A primate is any mammal of the group that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
It is the second such facility for the primates in the country. The other such facility in the country is in Himachal Pradesh.
Previously the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had declared Monkeys (Rhesus Macaque) as ‘vermin’ in Himachal Pradesh.
- It allowed local authorities to cull this animal in certain identified non-forest areas in Shimla for one year.
- The state government reported harm to life and property including large-scale destruction of agriculture due to the overpopulation of this species outside forests.
- Rhesus Macaque monkeys are protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 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.
Vermin Animal
- As per Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, states can send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.
- Wildlife laws divide species into ‘schedules’ ranked from I to V. Schedule I members are the best protected, in theory, with severe punishments meted out to those who hunt them.
- Wild boars, nilgai and rhesus monkeys are Schedule II and III members, it is also protected, but can be hunted under specific conditions.