Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Prior to the advent of colonial rule, elephants played a significant role in Khasi-Jaintia society. The domestication of elephants was widely practiced, not only due to their economic utility but also because of their cultural and symbolic significance. As the Khasi-Jaintias did not have a written script, the techniques of elephant catching were transmitted orally from one generation to the next-- a tradition that continues to this day. However, the onset of colonial rule provides us with vibrant documentation of the processes, techniques, and forest areas where elephant herds were most commonly found. The enactment of the Elephant Preservation Act (Act VI of 1879) introduced scientific methods for capturing elephants. This Act not only contributed to the preservation of elephant populations but also played a role in conserving the flora and fauna of the hills and plains of Assam. By the early 1910s, however, elephant catching in the hills began to decline, as herds gradually migrated towards the Garo Hills, the plains of Sylhet, and the regions of Nowgong and Goalpara.