Compensation for wildlife casaulties

The Government of Nepal has now decided to pay compensation to all the people who are victims of wildlife attack. It has been decided that an economic support will be provided to the families who have lost their family member and also compensation will be given to the ones suffering from loss of crops and domesticated animals. According to the compensation act guideline, 2066, if a  householder faces death due to a wild animal attack the dependants of that family will be entitled to Rs.150,000 as compensation, 50,000 for severely injured people, 5,000 for small injuries and 5,000 for the loss of domesticated animals and food crops. The compensation will be provided by the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation.

As indicated in the guidelines the compensation will only be made if the attack is by elephant, rhino, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, wild buffalo and bear. The guidelines were approved by Mr. Deepak Bohora, Forest Minister for Nepal and affirmed that the actions will be implemented immediately. There was no separate compensatory measure in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) Act before and hence to provide the compensation to the wildlife casualties, an amount of 1 crore rupees has been requested by the Department at present to the finance ministry. As indicated in the procedure of guidelines a written application should be submitted to the concerned National park or wildlife reserve or district forest office within 35 days of such casualties.

Such support is commented to be a positive aspect to reduce wildlife and human conflict and is hoped to encourage the local people towards wildlife conservation.