A Vision For The TigerA Vision For The Tiger From The Director's Desk

Assistance to Protected Areas

Reducing Man-Animal Conflict

Akhand Shikar Checked

Traffic Vigil in North-East India

Martyrs to The Cause

Assistance to Check Poaching

WWF Joins Global Tiger Forum

Land of The Tiger

Petition on Tiger In Supreme Court

TCP Director Gets Award

Threats to Tiger Habitats






April 1998
REDUCING MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT

"WWF TCP is paying special attention to reducing conflicts between people living in around tiger reserves and the tiger itself. A plan for providing immediate compensation for cattle killed by the tiger was finalised by the TCP and is being implemented in three State."

"Immediate compensation for cattle killed by tigers in three states"

"Vehicles for Protected Areas to speed up compensation"

WWF Tiger Conservation Programme has launched a compensation programme to counter the added threat to the Indian Tiger -- poisoning of tigers that are killing cattle. The scheme has been extended to the worst affected areas in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Maximum number of poisoning cases have been reported from these states.To ensure speedy payment of compensation, a lump sum of Rs 100,000 has been left with committed NGOs and vehicles have been provided to reach the site of the kill and conduct the necessary investigations before handing over the compensation to the affected villager.

For about two years now, tiger carcasses have been found intact. Their skin, bones and other parts had not been removed, which means the tigers were not being killed for the trade in tiger parts. Investigations showed they were being poisoned to death by angry villagers for killing their livestock. Leopards also suffer the same fate.

Three reasons were found for the dissatisfaction of the pople with the existing compensation schemes. 1)The permissible government compensation was less than the market value of the cow or buffalo. 2) the procedure for claiming compensation was cumbersome and there was invariably delay in payments. In some States no money has been given to the Park authorities for paying compensation. 3) In Andhra Pradesh militant extremist groups have encouraged local people to destroy tigers that kill cattle, primarily due to late payment of compensation by the state government.

In Andhra, the Park managers are empowered to draw whatever money is required as compensation and there is no shortage of funds, but they lack transport to reach far flung areas immediately to pay the money and take possession of the kill. The TCP is therefore providing two jeeps for the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam and Eturnagaram- Pakhal wildlife sanctuaries, to ensure speed in reaching the spot and in settling compensation.

In UP where the government compensation is much less than the actual value of the cattle, the TCP, with the approval of the State government, has placed money with partner NGOs in Corbett and Dudhwa. In both these Parks the NGOs visit the site when a kill occurs and pay full value for the killed animal from the funds provided by the TCP. The government compensation, as and when released, would be as reimbursement. The difference in the quantum paid on the spot and later to be reimbursed by the state, would be borne by the TCP. Jeeps earlier provided to Corbett and Dudhwa would be utilised for speeding up the inspection procedure and payments.

In Palamau, Bihar, the TCP is paying ex-gratia 50 per cent of the official compensation to the villagers. The government compensation, as and when paid, will also go to the cattle owner over and above the ex-gratia payment. Three vehicles have been provided to Palamau for better patrolling of the Park and payment of ex-gratia compensation.

In all three States, incentive money is being paid to villagers to report a tiger kill at the earliest. Rs 300 is given if the information is relayed immediately, Rs 200 if it is later then 24 hours and Rs 100 if it takes more than 48 hours. If there is doubt that poisoning may still occur after payment of compensation, the kill should be destroyed. A person could also be hired to safeguard a kill prior to the tiger's return for a feed.



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