Context:
The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has recently recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This move aims to restore statutory protection, curb illegal trade and cruelty, and ensure regulated scientific management of the species.
Background:
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- Following the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, the Rhesus Macaque was moved from Schedule II to a lower schedule (effectively Schedule IV under the rationalized four-schedule system). This schedule provides less stringent protection.
- Offences against animals in this category attract lower penalties, making it more difficult for forest officials to act against abuse or illegal trade.
- Following the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, the Rhesus Macaque was moved from Schedule II to a lower schedule (effectively Schedule IV under the rationalized four-schedule system). This schedule provides less stringent protection.
Proposed Status:
The panel has recommended reinstating the species in Schedule II (one of the two schedules for specially protected animals under the amended Act), which offers a higher degree of protection.
Implications of the Proposal:
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- Prohibition of Hunting and Trade: Reinstatement to a higher schedule will make hunting, poaching, and illegal trade of Rhesus Macaques illegal and subject to severe penalties.
- Stricter Penalties: Offenses under Schedule II would attract higher fines and longer imprisonment compared to the current status.
- Empowered Enforcement: State forest departments and wildlife authorities will gain stronger legal tools to prevent cruelty, exploitation, and illegal capture, and to prosecute offenders.
- Framework for Management: The move enables a regulated framework for scientific management of the species, including conflict mitigation, rescue, rehabilitation, and population control under authorized protocols.
- Prohibition of Hunting and Trade: Reinstatement to a higher schedule will make hunting, poaching, and illegal trade of Rhesus Macaques illegal and subject to severe penalties.
Significance:
Reinstating Rhesus Macaque under Schedule II will:
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- Strengthen legal protection against cruelty and illegal trade.
- Enable scientifically informed management and conservation.
- Facilitate the creation of targeted conflict mitigation strategies, balancing wildlife conservation with human interests.
- Strengthen legal protection against cruelty and illegal trade.
Way Forward:
The recommendation now awaits consideration and approval by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). If approved, it could set a precedent for revisiting protection measures for other species facing similar threats.
Conclusion:
The move underscores India’s commitment to animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem balance, while recognizing the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence. Strategic, science-based management plans will be key to ensuring that the Rhesus Macaque thrives without creating unmanageable conflict in human-dominated landscapes.
