A village in southwest China's Yunnan Province was paid record compensation Tuesday for the wild elephant attacks it suffered this year.

The 131 households of Kelian Village, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture -- which is located near the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve -- were paid 960,000 yuan (about US$144,960) for the 26 elephants "visits" of 2010, the nature reserve said.

The compensation was the most paid to any village near the nature reserve in 2010 for elephant attacks, which often result in the destruction of villagers' corn crops.

"The wild elephants ruined my family's 61 mu (about 40,667 square meters) of corn fields. But thanks to the compensation, we can make a living raising livestock. We don't need to rely on harvesting corn," said a villager surnamed Ye who received more than 18,000 yuan in compensation.

With a population of 700, Kelian Village is spread over an area of 9,700 mu. Most of its villagers grow grain for a living.

It is not uncommon for wild animals to disturb the lives of the people in the area. In addition to economic losses, the attacks have resulted in loss of life.

In November, a 67-year-old farmer was killed while picking chilis in mountains. The wounds he suffered and the footprints at the scene suggested he was attacked by an elephant.

Under the protection of the local government, the number of wild elephants in the rainforests of Xishuangbanna has increased to more than 250, about 90 percent of all of China's wild elephants.

Over the last 20 years, elephants have attacked more than 140 people and destroyed 50,000 tonnes of grain, local forestry office said.

The local government used to pay the compensation for the elephant attacks, which amounts to 3 million to 10 million yuan per year.

In November 2009, the provincial government signed a contract with China Pacific Insurance Co., allowing the private insurer to cover some of the villagers' losses.

Under the agreement, valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010, the insurer will pay up to 30 million yuan in compensation for wild elephant attacks.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2010)