New compensation policy for wild elephant attacks in Thailand
Compensation covers life, injury, property, and crop damage
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has updated its financial assistance policy for those affected by wild elephant attacks, with a maximum payout of 500,000 baht.
This new guideline, effective immediately, is designed to ensure timely and transparent compensation, with approved funds transferred within five working days.
Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa announced yesterday, June 12, that the updated regulations, published on Wednesday, June 11, aim to provide clarity and fairness in compensating those impacted by wild elephants. The compensation covers damages related to life, physical harm, property, and crops. Eligible recipients include those affected by wild elephants causing harm or destruction in these areas. They must own or legally lease the affected property.
To prevent misinformation, the regulation outlines specific criteria, including that the victim should not have intentionally provoked the elephants or entered their territory without a valid reason, and must have taken reasonable safety precautions.
Compensation rates include 500,000 baht for fatalities, up to 30,000 baht for general injuries, and 500,000 baht for permanent disabilities such as paralysis or loss of limbs or eyesight. A daily compensation of 100 baht is provided for up to 180 days if a victim is unable to work due to recovery, based on medical advice.
For damaged crops or property, land must have proper documentation such as land deeds or land use certificates. Compensation for agricultural produce varies, including 5,330 baht per rai for rice, 6,637 baht per rai for corn, and 24,550 baht per rai for bananas. However, those convicted by court orders for violations related to natural resource protection laws are ineligible for compensation.
Atthapol highlighted the department’s commitment to rapid assistance with streamlined processes. Affected persons must report incidents within three days to local park or wildlife protection officers. A designated committee will verify and assess damages within seven working days.
For injuries or fatalities, the committee is chaired by the Director of the Wildlife Management Office, while for property or crop damages, it is led by local conservation authorities as well as local leaders.
Once approved by the director-general, compensation funds are transferred within five working days. Since the regulation’s announcement, the department has prepared to compensate six affected persons, totalling approximately 1.02 million baht, including 1 million baht for two fatalities and 20,000 baht for four injuries, reported KhaoSod.
Additionally, the department has requested an extra 100 million baht from central funds for future compensation. However, the Budget Bureau initially indicated that allocations would be based on actual incidents, which might not align with the swift compensation approach outlined by the department.
Atthapol emphasised that these regulations are a crucial step in effectively supporting victims of wild elephant conflicts, reflecting the department’s dedication to sustainably resolving human-elephant conflicts.
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