With the aim of safeguarding rural livelihoods and Sri Lanka’s iconic leopard, 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 livestock insurance scheme aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict and safeguarding the endangered Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya).
This initiative provides monetary compensation to farmers who lose livestock to leopard predation, thereby protecting rural livelihoods while reducing retaliatory killings of this keystone species.
The Sri Lankan Leopard is the apex predator of the island’s terrestrial ecosystems, regulating herbivore populations and maintaining ecological balance.
As a keystone species, its survival is critical for healthy habitats, while its presence draws thousands of tourists annually to national parks such as Wilpattu, Yala, Kumana and Horton Plains.
However, shrinking habitats, forest fragmentation, and poaching have depleted natural prey, forcing some leopards to move into human-dominated areas, where they occasionally prey on livestock.
This leads to significant economic losses for rural farmers and has, in many cases, triggered retaliatory killings, further endangering the species.
The launch event was attended by Department of Wildlife Conservation Director General Ranjan Marasinghe, UNDP Sri Lanka Resident Representative Azusa Kubota, LOLC Chief Operating Officer Kithsiri Gunawardena, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society President Graham Marshall, and Project Lead Spencer Manuelpillai.
Wildlife Conservation Department Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said: “This programme offers a practical and timely solution to a long-standing 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 the event of livestock loss due to leopard predation, affected farmers can report the incident to a designated WNPS regional officer. The Department of Wildlife Conservation, together with veterinary and Grama Niladhari officers, will then conduct a prompt verification and assessment. Once eligibility is confirmed, claims are processed without delay, and compensation is transferred directly to the farmer, typically within 72 hours of verification.
UNDP in Sri Lanka, through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), will cover the cost of the insurance premium, with LOLC Holdings acting as the scheme’s insurance provider.