Zimbabwe's president just approved new legislation that sets up a compensation fund for people who get hurt or killed by wild animals, and the money comes from hunting fees plus a small cut of tourism revenue. The law kicks in when someone gets mauled or loses property because of wildlife encounters, but it specifically excludes poachers and anyone dumb enough to mess with animals on purpose. Claims have to get filed within a year of whatever happened.
The bill also creates a council to regulate wildlife professionals and make sure everyone working in the sector has proper credentials. Communities near wildlife areas are supposed to get a slice of the benefits under the new system, though lawmakers pushed back during debate about needing clearer rules on how the fund gets managed and distributed.
The bill also creates a council to regulate wildlife professionals and make sure everyone working in the sector has proper credentials. Communities near wildlife areas are supposed to get a slice of the benefits under the new system, though lawmakers pushed back during debate about needing clearer rules on how the fund gets managed and distributed.
