Chitwan National Park (CNP) distributed Rs 12.9 million (€72,240) in compensation during the last fiscal year to people affected by wildlife, highlighting the continuing challenge of balancing conservation with the livelihoods of communities living around Nepal’s oldest national park.
The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to endangered species such as the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger and Asian elephant, has seen recurring incidents of wildlife entering nearby settlements in search of food or habitat. Such encounters often result in crop losses, livestock deaths, property damage and, in some cases, human casualties.
According to the park, Rs 5 million (€28,000) was provided to the families of five people killed in wildlife-related incidents, while more than Rs 3 million (€16,800) was allocated for the treatment of injured victims. The compensation package also included Rs 2.36 million (€13,216) for livestock losses, Rs 2.18 million (€12,208) for crop damage, Rs 339,650 (€1,902) for damaged houses, Rs 70,000 (€392) for losses of stored food and Rs 43,500 (€244) for poultry damage.
The annual compensation is part of Nepal’s buffer zone programme, which seeks to ease the economic burden on communities living alongside protected areas while maintaining public support for wildlife conservation. However, human-wildlife conflict remains one of the country’s most persistent conservation challenges, with similar incidents reported around several national parks and wildlife reserves.