The government has doubled the compensation amount for human and property damage caused by wild animals from the protected areas. 

With the decision, the family of a person killed in wildlife attack will receive Rs 1 million. Earlier, the compensation amount in case of a wildlife attack fatality was Rs 500,000.  

 The Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) increased the compensation amount by amending its compensation directive. 

Director General at DNPWC Man Bahadur Khadka said the decision was taken in a bid to tackle the growing problem of human-wildlife conflict and encourage people in wildlife protection. 

“We have doubled the compensation amount following demands from local communities. I hope this measure will help in minimising human-wildlife conflict around protected areas,” said Khadka. 

After the second amendment to the directive, an individual who suffers from serious injuries in wildlife attack will now get compensation of maximum RS 200,000, whereas a victim with minor injuries will receive RS 20,000 as compensation. 

Similarly, the compensation amount in case of crop depredation by wild animals has been doubled to RS 20,000.

Khadka made it clear that the DNPWC will not pay compensation for deaths and injuries caused by wild animals inside the protected areas. 

“However, if a person is inside the park for research or other official works with the permission of the park authority and gets attacked by a wild animal, then that person will be eligible to claim compensation,” he said.  

Similarly, if a wild animal comes out of the core areas of the protected areas and buffer zones and causes damage to properties and human lives then the victim will get compensation.

As per the directive, the victim has to file formal request to the concerned authorities for claiming compensation within 35 days of the incident. 

 The DNPWC has also extended the coverage of compensation by adding more wild animals that are prone to causing harm to human lives and properties. 

The second amendment to the directive has added crocodile, Gauri Gai (Bos Gaurus) and python to the list of wildlife predators for which compensation can be claimed. 

When the directive was first introduced in January 2013, the list had only eight animals—elephant, rhino, bear, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, wild boar and wild buffalo. The list was later expanded in May 2015 by including clouded leopard, wolf and wild dog.   

At least 30 serious incidents of human wildlife conflicts are reported every year.