Monkeys declared as Vermin Species :

Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur informed that monkeys has been declared as a Vermin species for next one year for eleven districts and 91 tehsils and sub-tehsils in Himachal Pradesh.

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has raised this matter time and again with Centre Government and urged that due to monkeys menace in Himachal Pradesh crops and humans are getting affected and to resolve this problem it is necessary to declare monkeys as a vermin species.
• In this context the Centre Government has issued a notification on 14th February, 2019 and declared the monkeys as a vermin specie in 91 tehsils and sub-tehsils, which was published in Gazette of India on 21st February, 2019. This notification will be applicable for a period of one year.
• It is notable that on 24th April, 2016 monkeys were declared as vermin in 38 tehsils and sub-tehsils of 10 districts in Himachal Pradesh, whose period was extended for one year on 20th December, 2017. However, the forest department had done nothing to check the monkey menace.
• The state has reported damage to life and property including large scale destruction of agriculture by this species in areas outside forest. Responding to the plight of locals and farmers, the Environment Ministry has declared the monkey “vermin” in Himachal Pradesh for a period of one year. He said that this decision is going to benefit farmers and horticulturists of state at large.

Meaning of Vermin species :

Vermin (colloquially varmint or varmit) are pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases or destroy crops or livestock. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included vary from area to area and person to person.

Any species can develop into vermin if introduced into a region where there is favorable living conditions and few natural predators. In such cases, they are seen as an invasive species and humans often choose to fill the role of the predator to limit the danger to the environment.

Any species can develop into vermin if introduced into a region where there is favorable living conditions and few natural predators. In such cases, they are seen as an invasive species and humans often choose to fill the role of the predator to limit the danger to the environment.

Monkey menace and steps taken by government :

• Fed up with the monkey menace in the State, Eco Task Forces, will for the first time be constituted to scientifically cull monkeys, which have been declared as vermin in Himachal Pradesh.
• As the religious sentiments prevent the people from doing the same, the work now would be assigned to Eco Task Forces. They will be supported by the State forest department to carry out the culling.
• The sterilised monkeys would be tattooed in the middle of their forehead, adding that the mobile monkey sterilisation units would also be quite useful when made operational. 
• A ‘Rescue Centre for Life Care’ would come up near Shimla with a capacity to house around 1000 rogue and sterilised monkeys.
• As of now, it has been decided to cull monkeys in as many as 38 tehsils and sub-tehsils where they have been declared vermin by MOEF.
• Monkey watchers have been deployed near schools in Shimla to keep an eye on the monkeys and prevent an attack on children.
• The districts where the culling will take place are Chamba, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Shimla, Sirmour, Kullu, Hamirpur, Solan and Mandi.
• The State government had in 2016 urged the Union Ministry of Environment to declare the Rhesus Macaque monkeys as vermin to allow their selective killing in certain areas keeping in view the damage to life, property and agriculture.
• In June 2016, MOEF had allowed it by issuing a notification. But the government’s move is being questioned by many activists and animal lovers as they suggested other ways to contain the monkey menace.
• Principal Chief Conservator Forest, Wild Life revealed that as many as 1,25, 266 monkeys have been sterilised till march 2017 out of a total estimated population of  2,07,614 as per a 2015 survey.
• A Rapid Response Teams (RRT) at a circle level headed by the Divisional Forest Officer would be provided tranquiliser guns to sterilise the monkeys, besides capturing them in transport cages.
•  A feeding station for monkeys was being set up at Jakhoo Temple, adding that it was the first time that the rates of compensation had also been enhanced.
• Monkey menace had proved to be a bane for the people of the State and the focus should be on areas where the monkey population is more. Since they have been causing damage to crops and fruits, besides attacking women and children, in particular, the government has decided to open the rescue centre near Shimla.
•  Another task force should be constituted to deal with monkeys on national highways, villages and cities. Oral contraceptives should also be tried as a measure to control reproduction.
• Local politicians suggested legal steps be taken regarding feeding monkeys on national highways. She said apart from the enactment of the law, no action was taken by law agencies at permanent points or national highways where monkeys are fed, which could lead to major mishaps. 
•  A permanent solution was required to deal with the menace caused by monkeys and other wildlife. The teams need to focus on particular areas and then find the drop rate, if any, in the monkey population.