NEW DELHI: The central government has made amendments in the Wildlife Protection Act under which common crows, fruit bats and rats have been placed under Schedule II, a protected category. As per the amendment passed by the Parliament killing of animals in the protected list is punishable withimprisonment for three years and a fine of up to Rs 25,000.

They were earlier included in the Schedule V which includes vermin which destroy crops and spread diseases. These were the species that were allowed to be killed. As the Act of 1972 was amended, the schedules were reduced from six to four. Schedule I is for animal species that need rigorous protection, Schedule II is for species that require a lesser degree of protection, Schedule III is for protected plant species and Schedule IV Specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens).

State Wildlife Boards can apply to the Central Government to list Schedule II species under the vermin category and kill them if they attack humans, crops, livestock or property, or proliferate uncontrollably.