Mela shikar

2020-06-30T06:57:00Z

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[[File:Khedda.jpg|thumb|Elephant capturing by the ''[[khedda]]'' method]]
'''Mela shikar''' ({{lang-as|'}}মেলা চিকাৰ) is a traditional method of capturing wild elephants for captive use.These methods get employed in Burma, Thailand,Vietnam,Laos and Cambodia and in Assam in India
<ref name="ab">{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?213060|title=Parade Of The Proboscides-Elephant deaths in Assam reopen the man-beast conflict issue|last=Gokhale|first=Nitin A.|publisher=Outlook India|accessdate=2009-08-28}}</ref> The process involves [[lasso]]ing a wild elephant from the back of a trained one, called a ''[[koonki]]''.<ref name="ef">{{cite journal|last=Kalita|first=Prabin|date=2009-08-21|title=Assam seeks tame-tusker nod|journal=The Times of India|location=Kolkata|pages=1|accessdate=2009-08-28|url=http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=1&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIKM&mydateHid=21-08-2009&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Kolkata&edname=&articleid=Ar00104&publabel=TOI}}</ref> This practice is prevalent in the [[Seven Sister States|northeastern part of India]], especially in [[Assam]], and is one of the methods seen in ancient India. Other traditional elephant capture methods include: ''[[khedda]]'', ''byle shikar'', snaring, pit method, and decoying by using a female ''koonki'' to lure a male elephant. Mela shikar used to be organized twice a year - after [[Durga Puja]] and during [[Bihu]].<ref name="xy">{{cite journal|last=Mitra|first=Naresh|author2=Ray, Achintyarup|date=2009-09-13|title=Caught in a trap|journal=The Times of India|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.|location=Kolkata|pages=13|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default&AW=1252898431312|accessdate=2009-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604145300/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default|archive-date=2009-06-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==The method==
Mela shikar requires the services of a skille''[[mahout]]'' or ''[[phandi]]''. This person is able to [[lasso]] a wild elephant whilst mounted on another.<ref name="ef" /> The ''phandi'', who is well regarded for his abilities, is accompanied by another ''mahout assistant''. ''Phandis'' feature in the folklore of northeastern India. Since 1977, this and all other methods of capturing elephants are illegal, but prior to the 1977 legislation, mela shikar was used to lasso an estimated 300 to 400 elephants per year in [[Assam]] alone.<ref name="ab" />

Three distinct reasons make the mela shikar method a safe one.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lair|first=Richard|title=Gone Astray - The Care and Management of the Asian Elephant in Domesticity|date=October 1997|chapter=Capture methods and mortality|isbn=974-89472-3-8|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac774e/ac774e0e.htm#bm14..15.5.4|accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref>
#It is completely selective.  It usually targets carefully studied and selected animals, preferably the younger, more pliable ones.
#The death rate is low, since comparatively few elephants are caught at one time with sufficient manpower to take care of the captives.
#Mortality during mahoutship and training is low, because all personnel engaged are highly skilled.

==Gazali shikar==
Gazali shikar is a variation of mela shikar. ''Gazali'' in [[Assamese language|Assamese]] means the young [[shoot]]s of [[grass]]es. Elephants are very fond of ''gazali'' that [[Sprouting|sprout up]] during premonsoon showers in May–June. They are attracted to [[Grassland|grassy patch]]es, giving the ''phandi'' a good opportunity to capture them.<ref name="xy" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Practical Elephant Management:A Handbook for Mahouts|editor=Nibha Namboodiri|publisher=Elephant Welfare Association|date=July 1997|chapter=Elephant capturing in North-Eastern India (by Parbati Baruah)|url=http://www.elephantcare.org/manwild.htm#CAPTURING|accessdate=2009-09-14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720001902/http://www.elephantcare.org/manwild.htm#CAPTURING|archivedate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

==Legal issues==
Before 1977, elephants were under Schedule-II (Part-I) of the [[Wildlife Protection Act of 1972|Wildlife Protection Act]], which granted elephants the status of "special game" for which it could be killed, captured or traded commercially under license. In 1977, the elephant was brought under Schedule-I of the Act, which made its capture illegal.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="ef" /> This ban led to the gradual extinction of a line of specially trained ''mahouts'' or ''phandis''.<ref name="ef" />

According to S.S. Bisht, the former director of [[Project Elephant]] and senior forest service officer,
"Under Section 12 of the Forest Protection Act, permission to catch elephants can only be given by the [[Government of India|Centre]] for population control and scientific research. Last time such permission was given to Assam was in the ’80s".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kalita|first=Prabin|date=2009-08-21|title=Assam last got jumbo nod in ’80s|journal=The Times of India|location=Kolkata|pages=12|accessdate=2009-08-28|url=http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=12&edlabel=TOIKM&mydateHid=21-8-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Kolkata%20-%20Front%20Page&edname=&articleid=Ar01207&publabel=TOI}}</ref>

==Effect of the 1977 legislation on ''phandis''==
The ban has left many of the ''phandis'' jobless and homeless. Prohibited from earning a living with their specialized skills, they had to work odd jobs, such as becoming daily wage earners. The government settled 1000 families in 13 villages near the Assam-Arunachal border. In 2006, the residents were evicted, their houses were bulldozed or burnt down, and some residents were physically assaulted. Since that time, the jungle has reclaimed the villages.<ref name="xy" />

==Rehabilitation==
According to Xodou Axom Hati Phando Xonmilon Union, an organization working for the rehabilitation of the jobless ''phandis'', only 37 phandis are given employment by the government since 1972. According to Jayant Narlikar, Deputy Commissioner of [[Lakhimpur district|Lakhimpur]], around 170 families have been provided money and land in the district.<ref name="xy" />

==Quotations==
Renowned elephant experts and veteran ''phandis'' express their reactions and opinions as follows:<ref name="xy" />
*Expert ''phandi'' [[Parbati Barua]] says, "If nothing is done now, the art of mela shikar is sure to die soon because there won’t be any expert ''phandi'' around to teach his art to the new generation. I do not know whether it will be allowed once again. But I do not see any harm if mela shikar is occasionally allowed. That will provide livelihood to hundreds of phandis and keep the man-elephant conflict in control".
*Renowned elephant expert [[Dhritikanta Lahiri Choudhury]] says, " The [[Project Elephant|Project Elephant Committee]] already has a resolution on mela shikar. That is, the technique of mela shikar can be used, but only to scare away wild herds. For reducing the number of elephants, however, tranquilization is a much better and effective option. Mela shikar is a very old technique. We find the oldest instance of this art in the records of Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the Orient. At that time, even he had captured elephants. It was then considered sport. There’s a belief mela shikar harms elephants. That’s not true."
*Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Suresh Chand says, "From the point of social responsibility, rehabilitation of ''phandis'' has to be done. But it’s a very complex issue. We understand the problems of the ''phandis'', but cannot decide on anything."
*Veterinarian and elephant expert Kushal K Sarma says, "Why is the issue of rehabilitation coming up? Trapping wild elephants can never be justified. Besides, elephant trapping is a seasonal affair, so how did ''phandis'' survive the rest of the year? They used to cultivate land. So, the question of rehabilitation doesn’t arise at all."

==Revival of the ''shikar''==
In 2009, Assam has sought permission from the [[Government of India|Centre]] to revive the mela shikar. The state wants to put the captured and tamed animals on government duty - to carry guards and tourists in wildlife sanctuaries and to transport [[Electronic Voting Machine|EVM]]s and polling officials to remote areas. It also hopes that the move will contain the [[Human-wildlife conflict|human-elephant conflict]].<ref name="ef" />

==See also==
*[[Kaziranga Elephant Festival]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090720001902/http://www.elephantcare.org/manwild.htm#CAPTURING Elephant capturing in North-Eastern India]

[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]]
[[Category:Hunting methods]]
[[Category:History of hunting]]
[[Category:Culture of Assam]]

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Mela shikar