![\"Buffalos](\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/10\/25132401\/buffalo-nepal.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Despite the severity of the buffalo\u2019s injuries, park officials who arrived at the scene to take away the tiger\u2019s carcass didn\u2019t provide any treatment for the injured domestic animal, Rai said.<\/p>\n
The South Asian country, which nearly tripled its tiger population between 2010 and 2022, is home to a wide variety of wild animals, including species such as elephants (Elephas maximus) and greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis). However, as human populations grow due to migration and forest cover increases due to community forestry, incidents of human-wildlife conflict have become more frequent.<\/p>\n
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, a total of 5,234 cases of livestock depredation were reported across Nepal, underscoring the scale of the problem.<\/p>\n
The management authority for forests and wildlife in Nepal is shared by the federal Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), which oversees protected areas, and the divisional forest offices under provincial forest ministries, which manage forested areas outside national parks.<\/p>\n
The village of Pratappur, where the buffalo and tiger incident occurred, is situated within the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, a protected area where human-wildlife conflicts are particularly common.<\/p>\n
The park, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Nepal\u2019s key protected areas, known for its successful conservation efforts, particularly with regard to tiger populations. The park has distributed approximately 23 million rupees ($171,000) in compensation and relief in the last fiscal year.<\/p>\n
However, there are critical gaps in the compensation system, particularly for domestic animals injured by predators. Authorities currently do not even maintain data on injured livestock, and there is no provision for compensation in such cases.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the need to address growing human-wildlife conflict, the government introduced new compensation guidelines last year. Effective from July 17, 2023, these guidelines expanded the list of animals for which compensation can be claimed from 14 to 16 species, adding the nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and common monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to the list.<\/p>\n The guidelines also cover damages caused by animals such as elephants, rhinos, tigers, bears (Ursidae), leopards (Panthera pardus), snow leopards (Panthera uncia), clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), wolves (Canis lupus), dholes (Cuon alpinus), wild boars (Sus scrofa), wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee), mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), pythons (Pythonidae) and gaur cattle (Bos gaurus).<\/p>\n The documents allow for compensation to be provided to Nepali nationals who are attacked by wild animals, as long as they don\u2019t enter a protected area illegally. Compensation is also available for livestock, fish and fowl that are attacked, provided they are on private land.<\/p>\n Additionally, the guidelines provide for compensation if stored food items or crops planted on private land are damaged. Survivors of wildlife attacks who die within 35 days of hospital discharge are also eligible for compensation.<\/p>\n However, the guidelines still do not address compensation for domestic animals that are injured but do not die immediately as a result of wildlife attacks. \u201cThis omission is due to concerns about the potential economic burden on the government,\u201d explained Maheshwor Dhakal, the former director-general of the DNPWC. Dhakal added that, depending on the economic status of the affected family, the local government or the national park may be able to provide some relief on a discretionary basis.<\/p>\n For Rai, the farmer whose buffalo is now gravely injured, the lack of support is a significant burden. The buffalo, which Rai purchased six months ago with a loan of 40,000 rupees (approximately $300), produced 8 liters (2 gallons) of milk daily, serving as a crucial income source for his family.<\/p>\n Despite the buffalo\u2019s importance, and its severe injuries, Rai has received no assistance. \u201cI applied toothpaste to the wound, but it hasn\u2019t helped,\u201d Rai said, indicating the limited resources available to him.<\/p>\n Ranjan Kalakheti, president of the Manahari Rural Municipality, stated that his office is prepared to provide financial assistance to victims of wildlife attacks but noted that Rai had not approached him for support.<\/p>\n