At least nine children have been killed in leopard attacks in Kavre district in the past five years.

According to the District Forest Office (DFO), seven-year-old Salina Pandey of Baluwa-8; Pukar Tamang, 4, of Rabiopi-1; Bil Bahadur Shrestha, 4, and three-year old Sunil Lama of Devbhumi-8; Dipika Bista, 10, of Nasikasthan-2; Ramila Khanal, 4, of Khanalthok-3; and Nabin Bhurtel, 5, and Mohan Bhurtel of Mathinkot-5 were killed in attacks by wild beasts.

Families of the deceased children have already received compensation from the DFO.

District Forest Officer Prem Khanal said families of those who are killed in attacks by wild animals are paid around Rs 500,000.

Families of those who are left seriously injured by in wild animal attacks are paid Rs 100,000 in compensation while of those sustaining injuries get Rs 50,000, Khanal said. “Villagers also get compensation if wild animals kill their cattle,” he added.

Records maintained by the DFO showed that at least three leopards were killed in the past two years.

Assistant Forest Officer Prakash Nepal said people tend to kill leopards and other wild animals when they enter human settlements.

Incidents of animals entering human settlements are indications that their habitats are being encroached. Depleting forests due to human encroachment often leads to loss of food source, as a result wild animals are forced to come out of their habitats.