Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, of India provides a legal framework for protecting wild animals, birds, and plants.
The act categorizes species into schedules based on their conservation status, with varying degrees of legal protection.
Step 2: Detailed Explation:
Under Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Central Government is empowered to declare certain wild animals as "vermin" for a specified area and period.
Vermin are wild animals that are deemed harmful to crops, livestock, human lives, or property.
When an animal is declared as vermin, it is temporarily placed in Schedule V of the Act, which removes the restriction on hunting or culling that species in the specified region.
This provision helps mage human-wildlife conflict.
The animals specified in Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II cannot be declared as vermin under this section because they have the highest protection status.
Therefore, wild animals declared under Section 62 are classified as vermin.
Step 3: Fil Answer:
The correct option is (B).