Thiruvananthapuram: People affected by wildlife incursions are not eligible for compensation when elephants, wild boars or other wild animals damage compound walls and fences.The issue has become a growing concern in many villages, where walls and fences serve as the first line of defence for homes and farmland. Most of these protective barriers are built using private funds, but are frequently damaged by elephants and wild boars.Under existing govt rules, compensation is available for damage to houses and crops, but not for walls or fences.“We have been raising the issue with the forest department,” said Arun Kumar P N, president of Peringamala panchayat.The matter was discussed at a meeting with forest department officials attended by panchayat presidents, including representatives from Peringamala in Thiruvananthapuram district, where four to five families are awaiting compensation after elephants damaged their compound walls.According to Arun Kumar, affected families have repeatedly sought compensation for damaged fences.“But the govt provides compensation only for damage to crops and houses. Fences are the first line of defence. The govt should recognise this,” he said.He added that many residents spend their own money to build protective fences as the panchayat frequently faces wildlife incursions by elephants, wild boars, peacocks and monkeys, but receive no support when these structures are damaged.The panchayat and other local representatives have urged the forest department to extend compensation to people whose walls and fences are destroyed by wild animals. However, no decision has been taken so far.
