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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
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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
199:, 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. This ban led to the gradual extinction of a line of specially trained
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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
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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
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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
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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."
52:) 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. The process involves
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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
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and senior forest service officer, "Under
Section 12 of the Forest Protection Act, permission to catch elephants can only be given by the
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The death rate is low, since comparatively few elephants are caught at one time with sufficient manpower to take care of the captives.
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It is completely selective. It usually targets carefully studied and selected animals, preferably the younger, more pliable ones.
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Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Suresh Chand says, "From the point of social responsibility, rehabilitation of
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or burnt down, and some residents were physically assaulted. Since that time, the jungle has reclaimed the villages.
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survive the rest of the year? They used to cultivate land. So, the question of rehabilitation doesn’t arise at all."
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According to Xodou Axom Hati Phando
Xonmilon Union, an organization working for the rehabilitation of the jobless
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for population control and scientific research. Last time such permission was given to Assam was in the ’80s".
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says, "If nothing is done now, the art of mela shikar is sure to die soon because there won’t be any expert
70:, and is one of the methods seen in ancient India. Other traditional elephant capture methods include:
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Nibha
Namboodiri, ed. (July 1997). "Elephant capturing in North-Eastern India (by Parbati Baruah)".
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Mortality during mahoutship and training is low, because all personnel engaged are highly skilled.
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and polling officials to remote areas. It also hopes that the move will contain the
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has to be done. But it’s a very complex issue. We understand the problems of the
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to lure a male elephant. Mela shikar used to be organized twice a year – after
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Gone Astray - The Care and
Management of the Asian Elephant in Domesticity
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Lair, Richard (October 1997). "Capture methods and mortality".
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Before 1977, elephants were under
Schedule-II (Part-I) of the
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Three distinct reasons make the mela shikar method a safe one.
445:. Kolkata: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.: 13. Archived from
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during premonsoon showers in May–June. They are attracted to
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a wild elephant from the back of a trained one, called a
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Practical
Elephant Management:A Handbook for Mahouts
262:express their reactions and opinions as follows:
210:According to S.S. Bisht, the former director of
116:a wild elephant whilst mounted on another. The
100:Mela shikar requires the services of a skilled
506:. Elephant Welfare Association. Archived from
437:Mitra, Naresh; Ray, Achintyarup (2009-09-13).
321:In 2009, Assam has sought permission from the
155:Gazali shikar is a variation of mela shikar.
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530:"Assam last got jumbo nod in '80s"
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301:, but cannot decide on anything."
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528:Kalita, Prabin (2009-08-21).
400:"Assam seeks tame-tusker nod"
398:Kalita, Prabin (2009-08-21).
229:The ban has left many of the
171:. Elephants are very fond of
406:. Kolkata: 1. Archived from
283:Dhritikanta Lahiri Choudhury
573:Elephants in Indian culture
343:Kaziranga Elephant Festival
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64:northeastern part of India
31:Elephant capturing by the
281:Renowned elephant expert
112:. This person is able to
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331:human-elephant conflict
197:Wildlife Protection Act
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410:on February 4, 2013
583:History of hunting
534:The Times of India
443:The Times of India
439:"Caught in a trap"
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567:Categories
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514:2009-09-14
486:2009-10-18
453:2009-09-14
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375:2009-08-28
349:References
254:Quotations
96:The method
86:Durga Puja
50:মেলা চিকাৰ
278:control".
248:Lakhimpur
177:sprout up
337:See also
161:Assamese
54:lassoing
46:Assamese
307:phandis
299:phandis
295:phandis
266:Expert
260:phandis
244:phandis
231:phandis
224:phandis
205:phandis
201:mahouts
169:grasses
133:alone.
126:Phandis
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323:Centre
316:shikar
275:phandi
268:phandi
216:Centre
185:phandi
173:gazali
165:shoots
157:Gazali
118:phandi
109:phandi
103:mahout
82:koonki
73:khedda
59:koonki
37:method
34:khedda
175:that
131:Assam
114:lasso
68:Assam
475:ISBN
327:EVMs
90:Bihu
203:or
167:of
159:in
106:or
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