The weakening of the protections rhesus macaque monkeys were afforded for over 50 years under the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, through the passage of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, will likely expose them to capture, abuse, and exploitation. Rhesus macaques are currently listed under Schedule IV of the WPA, which offers only limited protection compared to their former Schedule II status.
Indian Rhesus Macaques Face Imminent Threat
"For the last half-century, the rhesus macaque, or the rhesus monkey, revered in Hinduism as earthly representation of Hanuman, was protected under India law. It protected them from being killed or captured for experimentation, meat, or being used in pet industries, among other forms of abuse. Now, inexplicably, those protections have been weakened. [Government of India] must reverse this egregious betrayal of these keenly intelligent and complex animals.” -- Prof. Mewa Singh, primatologist and professor of ecology and animal behaviour, University of Mysore , op-ed in The Economic Times
PETA India has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav requesting that they reinstate and further strengthen protections for these vulnerable monkeys – whose population declined by 90% during the 1960s and 1970s, prompting greater protections – in the interest of safeguarding animal welfare, local ecosystems, and human health. In the letters, PETA India raises the concern that these earthly representatives of Lord Hanuman are now again at risk of being captured or killed for experimentation, meat, the pet trade, and other forms of abuse.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has also, in a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, warned that removing rhesus macaques from Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act exposes them to capture, smuggling for experiments, and increased human-animal conflict.
Monkeys Stolen From Forests and Cut Open, Poisoned, and Electroshocked in Experiments
In addition to being revered in Hinduism, rhesus macaques fulfil an important role in local ecosystems by dispersing seeds – due to their mostly fruit-based diet – and their absence can be detrimental to forests. Monkeys abducted from their natural habitats by international wildlife dealers in Asia are often crammed into small wooden crates and transported in the dark, terrifying cargo holds of planes for up to 30 hours. The stress of capture and transportation can weaken their immune systems and risks the spread of zoonotic diseases around the world. In laboratories, monkeys are typically confined alone to small metal cages and cut open, poisoned, crippled, forced to become addicted to drugs, electroshocked, and killed.
A United Front: 30 NGOs Join Forces to Urge Stronger Protections for Rhesus Macaques
The growing demand for reinstating protections for these intelligent monkeys is now impossible to ignore. Alongside PETA India, 30 leading animal protection and conservation organizations have united in sending a powerful letter to government officials, urging swift action. This unprecedented coalition highlights the grave consequences of weakened protections and sends a clear message: rhesus macaques must not be left vulnerable to capture, exploitation, and abuse.
What You Can Do to Help
Request that honourable Prime Minister Modi and Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav restore protections for rhesus macaques and upgrade their status to Schedule I under the WPA so that they receive the highest protection – as afforded to numerous other indigenous species.