Why in news?
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife recently recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque in India’s protected schedule to ensure better management and conservation. Some states, however, have opposed the move due to human–monkey conflicts.
Background
The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) is one of the most widespread non‑human primates. Native to northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and parts of Southeast Asia, it thrives in a range of habitats from forests and grasslands to temple complexes and urban areas. Rhesus macaques have reddish‑brown fur, expressive faces and medium‑length tails. They live in large social groups with complex hierarchies.
Ecology and behaviour
- Diet: Omnivorous, eating fruits, seeds, leaves, insects and human food scraps. Their adaptability to urban diets is a key reason for their success.
- Reproduction: Females usually give birth to one infant after a gestation of around 165 days. Infants cling to their mothers for several months and gradually integrate into the troop.
- Social structure: Troops have multiple adult males and females. Females often remain with their natal groups, while males move between groups at adolescence.
- Human interaction: In many Indian cities, Rhesus macaques raid houses, markets and farms. Feeding by tourists and residents encourages their presence, sometimes causing property damage and injuries.
Why protection matters
- Ecological role: As seed dispersers and prey for larger predators, macaques contribute to forest health.
- Biomedical research: Rhesus macaques are vital in medical research due to their genetic similarity to humans. They have helped develop vaccines and treatments for diseases like smallpox, polio and HIV/AIDS.
- Conservation challenges: Habitat loss, hunting for meat, capture for the pet trade and human–animal conflict threaten wild populations. Protective legislation can help regulate culling and ensure humane management.
Conclusion
Balancing the protection of rhesus macaques with the mitigation of conflict requires community engagement, habitat restoration and education. Proper waste management and discouraging feeding can reduce encounters in cities, while wildlife corridors can allow macaques to move safely between forests.
Source: The Indian Express