BERNAMA New Straits Times 23 Apr 16;
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM35,800 was given out to 22 victims or their next-of-kin for attacks by wild animals via the Victims of Wild Animal Attack Aid Fund from January to March this year.
Social Welfare Department director-general Datuk Zulkiply Ramli said the number involved cases where victims were injured during the attacks. However, there were no death cases this year.
“The highest number of cases involved snake attack with 19 cases, and one case each involving wild boar and monkey,” he told Bernama here today.
Some 257 cases were recorded last year amounting to RM839,200 in aid. Of the number, 23 of them involved fatalities.
Most cases involved snake (187) followed by wild boar (25), crocodile (23), monkey (16), elephant (3) and one each for monitor lizard, wasp, bee and bear.
On April 19, Nuriey Nadhirah Roslan,7, of SK Dato’ Hashim 1 in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan died after she was bitten by a snake at school.
Following the incident, several blogs highlighted the fund which can be claimed by victims or next-of-kin since many were still unaware of it.
The fund approved by the Cabinet in 2004 provides a maximum aid of RM20,000 for death cases or permanent disability due to animal attacks.
For partial loss, the rate is determined by the percentage of injury.
A claim can only be made if the animals are categorised as wild by the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
Fifteen species of wild animals that fall into the category include elephant, crocodile, seladang, wild boar, bear, tiger, python, poisonous snakes and primates.
The other animals include all kinds of wasp, bee, fox, civet cat and pig.--BERNAMA
