Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, his first as a Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Anil Dave said Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh had requested to include "problematic wild animals" in schedule V in accordance with section 62 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.
Accordingly, nilgai has been placed in the category in 31 and wild boar in 10 districts of Bihar. Wild boars have been placed in Schedule V in 13 districts of Uttarkhand for a year.
A similar order was issued for Shimla in Himachal Pradesh in March this year for a period of six months where in a species of monkey (Rhesus Maccaque) was placed in the category. A similar order was extended in 10 districts of the state on May 24 for a year.
"I want to clarify that the Centre has not given any order to cull animals, nor has any state government has asked permission for it," Dave said.
With certain animals brought in Schedule V, this, the minister said, gives them the right "to drive the animal with a stick".
