July 31: The Chitwan National Park has distributed more than Rs 30 million as relief for the people affected by wildlife in the last fiscal year. The total relief distribution amounted to Rs 30.473 million.

According to the national park office, relief of Rs 20.20 million was distributed to the families of people who lost their lives due to the attack of wild animals during the review period.

Similarly, as per the information provided by the park officials, Rs 2,911,000 was distributed to the families of seriously injured people and Rs 537,000 to the families of people who suffered minor injuries.

According to the park, Rs 1,782,000 was distributed to the families who suffered loss of livestock, Rs 54,000 to the families whose stored grain was damaged, Rs 147,000 to the families who lost their houses and Rs 3,399,000 to the families who lost their crops.

As informed by the office, during the review year period, 22 people died in the attacks of wild animals, 24 people were seriously injured and 29 people were slightly injured. Other incidents involved 148 cases of livestock damage, 6 cases of stored grain damage, 19 cases of household damage and 476 cases of crop damage.

Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, the information officer of the national park, said that the incidents of wildlife attacks and damage increased last year as compared to the previous year.

“Recently, it seems that there has been an increase in incidents of damages caused by wild animals. Increase in wildlife population has also resulted in encroachment of human settlements,” he said.

Tiwari informed that there has been an increase in relief distribution along with increased cases last year. He also informed that human damages occurred in the main area of ​​the park as well, however, there is a provision to distribute relief only in cases of damage caused by wild animals outside the main area. He said that some of the victims’ families are in the process of receiving relief and only those who have completed the process are provided with relief.