WNPS Marks First Livestock Insurance Pay-Out & Launches Predator-Proof Pen Initiative 🐆

• Key Highlights & Payout: The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), alongside UNDP Sri Lanka (BIOFIN) and LOLC Holdings PLC, presented the first-ever insurance compensation cheque to a rural farmer in Alakolawewa following a leopard predation incident. • Scale & Participation: Over 1,000 farmers across Dambulla and Hingurakgoda have registered for the pilot scheme, establishing a vital financial safety net to protect rural livelihoods and prevent retaliatory killings of leopards outside Protected Areas. • Infrastructure Development: Laid the foundation stone for the first communal, predator-proof cattle pen in Wewalawewa. Supported by Jetwing Hotels and Colombo Jewellery Stores, the facility will safely house ~50 cattle overnight, targeting high-risk hours to secure dairy & livestock farming assets. • Strategic Partnership: Implemented in coordination with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, combining insurance payouts, community engagement, and protective infrastructure to balance wildlife conservation with rural economic stability.