Launch of Sri Lanka’s first livestock insurance scheme launched

Safeguarding rural livelihoods and Sri Lanka's iconic leopard The livestock insurance scheme provides rapid monetary compensation to farmers who lose livestock to leopard predation As a keystone species, the leopard’s survival is critical for healthy habitats

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In a bid to reduce the human-wildlife conflict and safeguarding the endangered Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, under its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), together with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), and LOLC, under the guidance of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, launched a pioneering Livestock Insurance Scheme. The launch event was held on Tuesday (August 19).

The livestock insurance schemea first-of-its-kind initiativeprovides rapid monetary compensation to farmers who lose livestock to leopard predation, thereby protecting rural livelihoods while reducing retaliatory killings of this keystone species.

Reflecting on the initiative, Mr. Ranjan Marasinghe, Director General, Department of Wildlife Conservation, said: “This programme offers a practical and timely solution to a longstanding challenge in leopard conservation. By ensuring affected farmers are compensated swiftly and fairly, we reduce the risk of retaliatory actions and build trust between communities and conservation authorities. It is a proactive step towards securing the future of Sri Lanka’s iconic apex predator while safeguarding rural livelihoods.”

In 2022, WNPS initiated the Multi-Regional Leopard Research and Conservation Project in partnership with LOLC Holdings, establishing six research centres across Panama, Sigiriya, Kilinochchi, Belihuloya, Kalawana and Kotagala. Baseline surveys in the Sigiriya research area revealed frequent livestock predation in villages bordering protected areas and buffer zones. Many of these incidents resulted in unreported retaliatory killings, including poisoning, snaring and shooting.