Mission Bonnet Macaque – Kerala’s Initiative for Population Control

The Kerala Forest Department plans to approach the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to seek permission for the sterilisation of Bonnet macaques, a species endemic to South India.

Reasons for the Proposal

• Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict:
  • Monkeys causing significant crop damage (coconut, vegetables, other agricultural crops).
  • Frequent complaints from farmers and forest-fringe communities.

About the Mission

• Named “Mission Bonnet Macaque”.
• Part of a larger 10-point programme aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict.
• Focuses on population control through sterilisation, not culling.

Sterilisation Approach

• Sterilisation of monkey troops in specific conflict-prone locations.
• Post-operative care: Animals will be sheltered temporarily for wound healing.
• Released back into their native territories after recovery.

🔹 Legal and Conservation Status

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
  • Bonnet macaque is listed under Schedule I, providing it the highest level of protection.
  • Requires MoEFCC approval for any intervention like sterilisation.
• IUCN Status:
  • Categorised as “Vulnerable” due to declining populations.

Past Precedent

• Wild pigs were the first species for which Kerala proposed population control.
• However, the Centre had earlier rejected Kerala’s proposal to declare wild pigs as “vermin”.
• No proposal to cull Bonnet macaques — focus remains strictly on humane sterilisation.

Geographical Distribution (as per IUCN)

• Found in:
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Goa
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Maharashtra
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Gujarat

(Source: TH)