As wildlife keep encroaching upon human settlements, often attacking people, Bhanu Municipality in Tanahun has come up with a plan to provide insurance to people living in the most wildlife-prone areas.

The Division Forest Office is soon launching the insurance campaign in the municipality’s ward numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 and 13, according to deputy forest officer at the Division Baburam Uprety.

“Wildlife such as leopard, bear, and monkey has caused loss of lives and properties in those wards,” Uprety said. “Often there is a clash between the wildlife and the people. To minimise the risk, we are launching the life insurance programme.”

The programme will be coordinated by local community forests, Bhanu Municipality, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and locals. Shikhar Insurance Company will provide the service.

According to the insurance scheme, the insured will get Rs 200,000 if they sustain injuries during a wildlife attack, Rs 1,000,000 in case of death, and Rs 12,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively for the death of goats and cattle. The insurance will also cover the loss of property and crops.

“Even though the programme is likely to be beneficial, who will pay the insurance premium has not yet been determined,” said Prem Bahadur Lama, ward chief of Bhanu-1. “Besides the insurance, we have also adopted several other measures to save locals and their property from wildlife attacks.”

About a dozen wooden traps are being constructed to contain wildlife in the municipality, where five children and over 30 cattle have lost lives from leopard attacks in the last year and a half.