NEW DELHI, MARCH 13: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has launched a new compensation scheme which might help dissuade villagers from poisoning tigers as they kill livestock belonging to the villagers living around the national parks.After reports of six tigers being poisoned in the tiger reserves of Dudhwa and Corbett, the Tiger Conservation Programme of WWF offered a compensation package to provide speedy relief to villagers whose livestock has been killed by a tiger. In addition, the group will also give a cash incentive to anyone apprising them of occurrence of the kill so that they can act quickly.
``To ensure that there is no delay, we will pay any person who gives us information regarding the occurrence of killing a cow, bullock or buffalo. With the initial report, we can reach the site quickly and after verifying pay the villager. This might stop him from attempting any revenge killing,'' said M K Ranjitsinh of the Tiger programme.
He said the scheme would be implemented through localpartners, who have been instructed to burn the carcass of the kill after paying the farmer. The programme is being implemented by Bill Arjan Singh in Dudhwa and the Corbett Foundation in Corbett Tiger Reserve area.
Till now, in Uttar Pradesh, the WWF has compensated farmers for the killing of six animals by tigers. The government has its own scheme for compensation but it is beset with delays and gives only a nominal amount as relief. In Andhra Pradesh the situation is somewhat grim. Soon the same scheme would be introduced there as well, said Ranjitsinh.
Reports say, 22 tigers and six leopards have been killed since 1994, with the tiger population in Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam declining by nearly 60 per cent. The villagers earlier used to accept the loss of a few domestic animals. But with the price of livestock rising this has been annulled.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
