CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Union Environment Ministry has declared Monkeys (Rhesus Macaque) as ‘vermin’ in Himachal Pradesh. It will allow local authorities to cull this animal in certain identified non-forest areas in Shimla for one year.

Detailed explanation-2: -In order to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, several states in the past have petitioned to declare various animals to be vermin, including elephants, Indian porcupine, bonnet macaque, common langur and barking deer.

Detailed explanation-3: -Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 empowers the states to send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.

Detailed explanation-4: -It may be noted that nilgai was officially declared by the Bihar government as ‘vermin’ in 2015 after its plea was accepted by the central government after a series of complaints from various districts of the state about these wild animals ravaging farmlands.

Detailed explanation-5: -Vermin means wild mammals and birds which are harmful to crops, farm animals or which carry disease. • In India, wild animals can be declared as vermin if they have become (i) dangerous to human life or property (including standing crops on any land).