Updates

Wild Seve Celebrates 10,000 Cases

WCS’s Wild Seve program, which helps farmers living around wildlife-rich protected areas in India’s Western Ghats region recoup losses of crops or livestock from tigers, leopards, elephants, and other protected wildlife, has just filed its 10,000th claim.

The program provides a toll free number local residents can call to report an incident. When a call comes in, locally based field staff are then dispatched to the location. They assess the extent of the damage and help the affected family file and track compensation claims with the government.

The 10,000th claim involved a livestock predation incident in the village of Shivapura, where a black panther was spotted late on the night of July 8.

All told, Wild Seve currently services more than a half million people living in 600 settlements around India’s Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks. Since the program launched, it has helped 5685 families receive $235,000 in payments from the Karnataka government.