Nilgai, monkey, wild pig declared vermin on request of states: Govt

“Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act empowers the Central government to issue notifications, declaring any wild animal, other than those specified in Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II, as vermin for any specified area and a specified period by including the species in Schedule V of the Act. 

The Ministry has issued notifications under this provision of the Act based on the request of states,” Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave told the Rajya Sabha.

Bihar had sought a notification, declaring Nilgai and wild pigs as vermin in 31 districts and 10 districts, respectively. Uttarakhand had asked for a notification for wild pigs in 13 districts, he said. Himachal Pradesh had sought a notification for Rhesus Macaque (monkeys) in 10 districts, Gujarat for nilgai in 19 districts and Maharashtra for nilgai in one district and wild pigs in four districts.

The notifications are not applicable to forest areas of the states and only cover selected areas outside forests. They are valid for one year from the date of their publication, he said.