Question : Damage to crops by Rhesus Monkeys

(a) whether the Government has taken note of loss of crops due to the damage caused by Rhesus monkey during the last three financial years, State/UT-wise;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that activities of these wild monkeys have also resulted in the death of several children;
(d) if so, the number of children killed by these monkeys during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
(e) the measures being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to check the menace of these rhesus monkeys so as to control the loss of crops as well as protect the lives of the general public?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) to (d) Ministry is aware of the damage caused to crops and attacks on humans including children by Rhesus Macaque. However, the details in this regard are not collated in the Ministry.

(e) The important steps taken by the Government to reduce the menace of monkeys are following:

i. Ministry has issued an advisory in the context of human-wildlife conflict on 6th February, 2021 to the States/ UTs for handling human-wildlife conflicts including those due to monkeys.

ii. The Government has approved a pilot project on immuno-contraception in the year 2017 for controlling the population of wild animals responsible for damage and destruction of crops for a period of three years to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.
iii. The Ministry provides financial assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country. The broad activities supported under these schemes include habitat enrichment and water augmentation.The financial support to the States/UTs also includes a component of compensation due to damage by wild animals.
iv. The Ministry, in the year 2018, has increased ex-gratia relief under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in case of depredation by wild animals.
v. Under the revamped operational guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), issued by the Government of India (effective from the year 2020), States can provide add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals.
vi. Previously, Ministry had declared Rhesus Macaque as vermin in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh based on the requests received from these states for managing human monkey conflict issues.
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