The National Board for Wildlife’s standing committee recently recommended reinstating Rhesus Macaque species of monkeys under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to restore statutory protection, enforcement against illegal capture, cruelty and to regulate scientific management.

Veteran primatologist Mewa Singh, a professor of ecology and animal behaviour at the University of Mysore, had campaigned to restore the legal protection of species, authoring a letter to the Union Environment Minister, which was endorsed by more than 60 primate and wildlife experts. Singh spoke to The Indian Express on what this means, how this will help in managing the population of the monkeys and what can be done to manage frequently reported man-animal conflict.

Why was it important to re

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