The Immediate Proposal – What Assam Is Considering

Assam's Elephant Capture Debate: Mela Shikar Revived Amid Rising Human‑Elephant Conflict

The Assam government is weighing the revival of mela shikar—a traditional method of capturing wild elephants—for use in non‑forest zones where human‑elephant clashes have surged. Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced that the 126‑member Assembly discussed the issue on July 15, 2026, and that a standard operating procedure will be drafted by July 22, pending a scientific study and Centre approval.

The state’s suggestion to re‑introduce mela shikar stems from a perception that historic captures kept elephant numbers in check. Officials argue that, unlike protected reserves, non‑forest settlements lack any formal mechanism to mitigate damage caused by roaming elephants.

• ▸The Assembly received additional suggestions by July 20, after which a SOP will be prepared by July 22.
• ▸Mela shikar involves mahouts on trained captive elephants (koonkies) encircling and lassoing a targeted wild elephant.
• ▸The practice is expressly excluded from protected areas and jungles under the minister’s statement.

If approved, the method would be limited to zones where crops and human life are repeatedly threatened, complementing other measures such as solar‑fencing and elephant‑friendly plantations.

Legal Landscape – How the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Governs Capture

India’s primary wildlife law, the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, sets strict boundaries on the capture, transport, and domestication of wild fauna. Section 9 prohibits killing, hunting, or capturing any wild animal except under narrowly defined exceptions, while Section 38 empowers the Central Government—on the recommendation of the State Government—to declare national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Section 35 mandates the appointment of a Chief Wildlife Warden and Wildlife Wardens to oversee protected areas.

• ▸Section 9 makes the indiscriminate capture of wild elephants illegal unless a specific exemption is granted.
• ▸Section 38 defines National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries as areas of national importance, rendering them “inviolate” under the Act.
• ▸Section 35 requires a Chief Wildlife Warden to supervise any authorised capture operation, ensuring compliance with statutory safeguards.

Thus, any revival of mela shikar must navigate these statutory provisions, obtain central clearance, and be monitored by designated wildlife officials.

Human‑Elephant Conflict: Scale and Costs

Assam has witnessed a sharp rise in incidents that claim human lives and devastate agriculture. Minister Mallabaruah cited at least 150 human fatalities each year, alongside extensive crop loss across large tracts of land. The state has responded by raising compensation for death from ₹4 lakh to ₹6 lakh and pledging disbursement within 72 hours of an incident.

• ▸Over 150 people have died annually in recent years due to elephant‑related attacks.
• ▸Compensation for victims’ families has been increased to ₹6 lakh, with a target of 72‑hour release.
• ▸Farmers cultivating horticultural crops report the highest economic losses, prompting calls for bio‑fencing and alternative land‑use patterns.

These figures underscore the urgency of a solution that mitigates human suffering while preserving elephant populations.

International Obligations – Aligning State Action with Global Frameworks

Assam’s proposed measures must also respect India’s commitments under several multilateral environmental agreements. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) obliges India to pursue climate‑resilient strategies, while the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls for the conservation of threatened species and their habitats. Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates the trade and movement of elephants and their derivatives.

• ▸Under the UNFCCC, India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include safeguarding ecosystems that sequester carbon, such as forested corridors used by elephants.
• ▸The CBD emphasizes in‑situ conservation, urging states to protect wildlife within their natural habitats rather than resorting to capture.
• ▸CITES lists the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Appendix I, restricting commercial trade and demanding stringent monitoring of any translocation.

Any state‑level capture programme must therefore be justified as a conservation‑oriented, not commercial, activity and must be reported to the central authorities overseeing these treaties.

Way Forward – Balancing Conservation, Livelihoods, and Legal Norms

The Assam government’s multi‑pronged approach—combining mela shikar, solar‑fencing, bio‑fencing, and monkey sterilisation—reflects an attempt to address the immediate human‑elephant conflict while adhering to legal and international standards. Successful implementation will hinge on transparent scientific studies, rapid compensation mechanisms, and coordinated oversight by wildlife wardens.

• ▸A scientific study, to be commissioned before any field trial, will assess ecological impacts and humane capture protocols.
• ▸The proposed SOP will delineate roles for forest officials, local administration, and elected representatives, ensuring accountability.
• ▸Parallel efforts to control rhesus macaque populations through sterilisation, modeled after Himachal Pradesh’s programme, aim to reduce crop damage without harming protected primate species.

If these measures are executed with rigor, Assam could set a precedent for other Indian states grappling with similar human‑wildlife interfaces, demonstrating that development and biodiversity can coexist under robust legal frameworks.