Mela shikar

Mela shikar (Assamese: মেলা চিকাৰ) is a traditional method of capturing wild elephants for captive use.

[1] The process involves lassoing a wild elephant from the back of a trained one, called a koonki.

Prohibited from earning a living with their specialized skills, they had to work odd jobs, such as becoming daily wage earners.

According to Jayant Narlikar, Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur, around 170 families have been provided money and land in the district.

[3] Renowned elephant experts and veteran phandis express their reactions and opinions as follows:[3] In 2009, Assam has sought permission from the 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 EVMs and polling officials to remote areas.