Compensation for human-wildlife conflict

How effective is compensation for loss that human-wildlife conflict causes?

The small town of Pandharkawada in Maharashtra is in the news: A young predator tigress with cubs has been in search of prey. So far, she has killed 14 people; three of these deaths were reported in August 2018 alone. The state government is making an attempt to capture and sedate her.

The damages caused by the wildlife are social, psychological and economic loss to the individual and the community and on the other, the loss of an endangered animal. The most common damage caused by wildlife is the destruction of crops by elephants, deer, antelopes, wild boar and other wildlife. Elephant Task Force, ‘Gajah Secures the Future for Elephants in India’.

Monetary compensation for the loss of lives and livelihood is a major tool used by governments to reduce the man-animal animosity. In India's 29 states, 22 (76 per cent) compensated for crop loss, 18 (62 per cent) for property damage, 26 (90 per cent) for livestock depredation, and 28 (97 per cent) for human injury or death. In 2012-2013, 78,656 conflict incidents were reported from 18 states and compensations totaled Rs 386 million, as per the study. The average expenditure per incident is

• For crop and property damage, Rs 3,406
• For livestock, Rs 5,363
• For human injuries, Rs 7,465
• For human death, Rs 233,715

Source:Business standard, e-newspaper

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