The state’s move to allow the capture of monkeys from human-dominated areas has triggered concern among wildlife conservationists, who say the new government resolution is well-intentioned but confusing and incomplete. While the GR outlines how macaques and langurs should be trapped and released, it fails to clarify what happens if an animal dies during capture, who is held accountable or what action the Forest Department will take in such cases.

On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Forest Department issued a GR and SOP detailing the protocol for rescuing conflict-affected Rhesus macaques and Grey langurs, along with instructions for safe capture and release into natural habitats. Both species hold deep cultural importance and often live around human settlements. With food scarcity, health issues, group conflict and human feeding worsening interactions, incidents of primates entering homes and damaging property have increased across the state.