Challenges Faced by Traditional Elephant Keepers in Assam
The Struggles of Elephant Owners in Assam
For many traditional elephant owners, the struggle extends far beyond isolated incidents. as maintaining these animals has become increasingly expensive
North Lakhimpur, April 23: The age-old practice of keeping domestic elephants in Assam is encountering significant challenges. Rising costs, diminishing forest habitats, and reduced income sources are pushing traditional elephant keepers to their limits.
The situation is exemplified by Dharmendra Narah from Kadam Misinggaon in Lakhimpur district, whose two elephants, Miyum (41) and Kushali (8), have been missing since mid-January.
These elephants were housed in a camp within the Dullung Reserve Forest near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border for feeding but reportedly wandered into the forests of Arunachal Pradesh and have been untraceable for several months.
On April 19, Narah learned that the elephants had been sighted in the dense forests of Kamle district in Arunachal Pradesh.
However, the informant allegedly requested a substantial amount of money to assist in their retrieval, adding to the family's distress.
For many traditional elephant owners, the difficulties extend beyond isolated cases. The cost of maintaining these animals has risen sharply.
“Caring for an elephant today is incredibly tough with limited resources,” stated Mrinal Narah, Dharmendra’s younger brother, who has a 14-year-old elephant named Mangalee. He noted that at least two caretakers, including a mahout and an assistant, are necessary, which costs over Rs 20,000 monthly in wages alone.
Moreover, each elephant consumes approximately 10 kg of chickpeas and jaggery daily, along with banana trees and other natural fodder. Despite these high costs, income opportunities have significantly decreased.
“People occasionally hire elephants for events like weddings, but the payment is minimal. We continue this practice mainly to uphold our ancestral tradition,” he added.
A significant challenge is the lack of sufficient natural habitat. Elephant owners often rely on forest areas in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh for feeding, where they encounter various risks.
“We require at least one bigha of land per elephant daily for grazing, which is hard to find in Assam. In Arunachal, elephants sometimes wander into plantations, leading us to pay compensation,” Mrinal explained, urging the government to allocate land for elephant grazing.
The situation is further complicated by environmental changes. Decreasing forest cover and rapid urbanization have disrupted traditional feeding patterns, altering the behavior of domestic elephants and making them more challenging to manage.
Kuldip Gogoi (30), a fourth-generation elephant keeper from Hariyahni village, shared similar concerns. Despite lacking significant income from his elephants due to the timber industry’s closure, he continues the practice out of a deep cultural connection.
“There is no income now, but I want to carry forward this legacy and the bond we share with these animals,” he expressed.
Historically, domestic elephants played a crucial role in the timber trade, providing stable livelihoods for their owners. However, with the industry's decline, that economic support has largely disappeared.
Although the Assam government announced financial assistance schemes in 2024 for traditional elephant handlers, many owners report irregularities in implementation. They claim that genuine beneficiaries have been overlooked while others have exploited the benefits.
As challenges escalate, traditional elephant keepers are calling for immediate intervention, seeking land for fodder cultivation, adequate financial support, and recognition of their role in preserving a unique cultural heritage.
Without prompt action, they fear that this centuries-old tradition of coexistence between humans and elephants may soon vanish from history.