Research overview: design and pitfalls of livestock-depredation compensation schemes

This overview synthesises the theory and practice of compensating farmers for livestock killed by big cats as a tolerance-building tool. It reviews recurring design challenges: verifying claims to prevent fraud, distinguishing depredation from disease or theft, paying promptly enough to maintain goodwill, securing sustainable funding, avoiding moral hazard that erodes husbandry, and ensuring fair access for remote claimants. Drawing on lion, snow leopard, tiger, and jaguar programs, the literature shows mixed results: compensation can reduce retaliation where well-administered but often disappoints when underfunded or slow. The survey contrasts conventional compensation with performance payments and community-managed insurance as alternative incentive structures.