Assam's Fresh Approach To Tackling Human-Elephant Conflict — Rooted In Ancient Reverence

Assam shares a deep and sacred connection with elephants, one that transcends time and shapes the state's cultural and environmental consciousness.

Unlike other regions, where human-animal conflicts often lead to aggressive mitigation strategies, Assam’s approach has been one of reverence for the animal and co-existence.

Despite increasing incidents of human-elephant conflict due to habitat encroachment and rapid urbanisation, the people of Assam have largely chosen conservation over confrontation.

The state's love for elephants is exemplified by initiatives like "Hati Bondhu (Friends of Elephants)." The project has gained national recognition, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising its success in the 118th episode of Mann Ki Baat in January 2025.

In Assam's history, the elephant has not only been an indispensable part of warfare and statecraft but also a revered symbol woven into the very fabric of Assamese society.

A Well-Documented Enduring Bond

The region’s dense forests and vast floodplains have been a natural habitat for elephants, making them an integral part of its culture, warfare, and economy.

Ancient Indian texts and Assamese sources alike highlight the abundance, importance, and use of elephants in this region. 

Classical Indian literature frequently reference elephants from Kamarupa. Kalidasa and Kautilya mention the elephants of Kamarupa as being of exceptional quality and speak about the strategic importance of elephants in warfare.

According to the Santi-Parva of the epic Mahabharata, the distinguishing characteristic of the people of Kamarupa was that they could fight skillfully on elephants.

The Mahabharata provides a dramatic account of King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha (present-day Assam), who fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

A formidable warrior, Bhagadatta rode his mighty elephant, Supratika, into battle, demonstrating not only the skill of Assamese warriors in elephant warfare but also the close bond they shared with these majestic creatures.

The Drona-Parva of the Mahabharata provides a detailed episode of Bhagadatta and Supratika in battle.

On the twelfth day of the Kurukshetra War, Bhima kills numerous elephants in the Kaurava army with his mace. This enrages Bhagadatta. Mounted on his colossal elephant, Bhagadatta charges at Bhima with full force. Supratika rushes forward, crushing Bhima’s chariot into pieces and killing his charioteer and horses.

Bhima narrowly escapes destruction by jumping off his chariot in time. Finding himself underneath the massive beast, Bhima attacks Supratika’s legs, causing the elephant immense pain. This further enrages Supratika, who grows uncontrollable and attempts to trample Bhima.

In a swift motion, Supratika seizes Bhima with its trunk and is about to crush him under its massive knees. Yet, Bhima manages to escape from the animal's grip and finds himself again between the elephant’s legs, attacking it persistently.

The Kaurava forces, witnessing Bhima’s predicament, believe him to be slain by Supratika. Yudhishthira, Bhima's elder brother, is struck with grief and immediately urges the Pandava forces to retaliate against Bhagadatta and Supratika.

The king of Dasarna, an ally of the Pandavas, charges at Bhagadatta, leading to a ferocious battle between the two war elephants. Supratika, displaying unparalleled might, crushes Dasarna’s elephant to death.

Just then, Bhima seizes an opportunity to escape from beneath Supratika and rejoins his forces, much to the relief of the Pandavas.

Assam's connection with elephants extends beyond the Puranic era.

Chinese traveller Xuanzang, who visited Kamarupa in the seventh century, documented his observations of the region's abundant elephant population. His memoirs describe vast herds of wild elephants and their primary use in warfare.

Similarly, inscriptions such as the Nidhanpur Grant attest to the presence of elephants in the royal army of King Bhaskara Varman, who, alongside Harsha Vardhana, waged military campaigns with an impressive force of 20,000 elephants. 

The elephant’s significance persisted through the medieval period, particularly under the Ahom rulers. One of the most important literary works on elephant care, Hastividyarnava, was commissioned by Ahom King Siva Singha (1714-1744 CE) and authored by Sukumar Barkaith.

One of the oldest veterinary treatises in the world, the text sets down detailed knowledge on elephant management, treatment, and taxonomy. It reflects the Ahom monarchy’s deep interest in elephant care and conservation.

Additional texts such as Gajendra Chintamani and Hati-Puthi of Sri Sri Auniati Satra in Majuli reinforce this tradition of elephant welfare in Assam.

This historical reverence for the elephant explains why, despite rising human-elephant conflicts in modern times, Assam emphasises elephant conservation over economic gain.

Hati Bondhu’s Success

Bhuyan, known for his relentless activism for environmental and social causes, recognised the need for an innovative, community-driven approach to mitigating human-elephant conflict in the region.

One of the first projects under Hati Bondhu sought to address the issue of sagging power lines, which posed a significant threat to elephants.

In 2018, 288 sagging electric lines were successfully raised in remote parts of Nagaon and surrounding villages along the slopes of Karbi Anglong.

Carried out with the help of local volunteers and community leaders, the effort significantly reduced elephant deaths on account of electrocution, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in human-elephant conflict zones.

Later, the pilot project involved elephant habitat enrichment to counter increasing deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change — all of which were pushing elephants out of their traditional migratory paths.

The initiative aimed to restore forested areas, create safe migratory corridors, and increase the availability of water sources, ensuring that elephants remained within protected areas rather than stray into human settlements.

Before 2018, large herds of elephants, about 150 in number, regularly migrated from the Bagser Reserve to Diju Valley Reserve. After gathering in the reserve, they would disperse towards Nonoi, Hatikhuli, and Ronghang villages, where they frequently raided villagers' ripened paddy fields.

While a few elephants (around 10 to 15) stayed back, most of the herd would move further in search of rice and paddy. These incursions led to frequent human-elephant conflicts, causing significant distress to local communities.

However, the situation took a turn in 2019 when Hati Bondhu initiated a rice plantation programme near Ronghang village to provide elephants with a dedicated food source. This effort involved planting sali rice across 66 acres of community land in the Hatikhuli-Ronghang area, gradually transforming it into a reliable feeding ground.

Consequently, the entire herd from Bagser began visiting the plantation through the Diju Valley Reserve, feeding on the cultivated paddy for about 20 to 25 days before retreating the same way they arrived.

Since this food supply lasted until the villagers had completed their harvest, instances of crop raiding ceased, effectively eliminating human-elephant conflict in the area.

The rice plantation initiative has seen growth, with an increasing number of elephants using the designated feeding grounds each year. By 2023, an estimated 250 elephants arrived from the eastern Bagser region, while an additional 80 elephants travelled from the western side, including Hojai and Doboka, bringing the total to approximately 330 elephants.

To address the growing need for supplemental food sources, Hati Bondhu introduced Napier grass as an emergency measure. Although native to Uganda and commonly used as cattle fodder, Napier grass was selected due to its rapid growth and high nutritional value.

Planted in May, the grass reaches a height of nearly 8 foot by August, making it a viable, short-term food solution for elephants. While concerns exist about its non-native status, the pressing reality of habitat degradation has necessitated this intervention.

The plan worked well. In November 2023, over 300 elephants gathered at the Ronghang plantation, where they fed on Napier grass and other cultivated plants for nearly a month.

Afterwards, the Hati Bondhu team directed elephants to the specially planted paddy fields, where they remained for another 20 to 25 days. This span provided ample time for villagers to complete their harvest undisturbed.

Observations revealed that the elephants followed a predictable feeding cycle — spending about a month consuming plantation vegetation and another 15 days feeding on paddy — before retreating in organised herds without venturing into human settlements.

Through strategic planning and involving the community, Hati Bondhu has successfully reduced human-elephant conflict by creating sustainable food sources and restoring habitats. By ensuring that elephants have access to sufficient nourishment within their natural territories, the initiative has fostered a peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife in Assam.

Beyond food security, Hati Bondhu works on habitat restoration through community-led afforestation programmes.

In collaboration with villagers affected by human-elephant conflicts, barren lands have been transformed into green corridors, providing natural sustenance to elephants.

A Shared Responsibility

At the heart of Hati Bondhu's mission lies the recognition that protecting elephants and their habitats is a shared responsibility between humans and the natural world.

This programme addresses the root causes of human-elephant conflicts, often stemming from resource scarcity and the encroachment of human activities into elephant habitats.

By providing training and skill development, Hati Bondhu is helping local communities create alternative livelihoods that reduce their dependence on activities that negatively impact elephant habitats. For instance, training in sustainable agriculture, handicrafts, and eco-tourism allows people to generate income without encroaching upon elephant territories.

Moreover, the programme includes specialised training on the safe handling of elephants, both in captivity and during community interactions. Local folk are informed about the behaviour of elephants, made to understand their needs, and learn how to prevent conflicts by minimising activities that might disturb or threaten these creatures.

Skill development related to conservation allows the community to take on active roles in protecting elephant habitats, thus reducing the likelihood of elephants straying into human settlements.

Communities see the direct benefit of protecting elephants — not just in terms of ecological balance but also in the opportunity for a better quality of life through eco-friendly businesses and practices.

As the future of human-elephant co-existence lies in the hands of the next generation, this aspect forms the focus of the fourth project under the Hati Bondhu initiative.

A sensitisation and awareness programme for rural children is designed to instil in young minds a sense of respect, understanding, and stewardship towards elephants from an early age. It targets rural schools, where children are often less exposed to wildlife conservation messages.

Through engrossing educational activities, interactive lessons, and field visits to nearby elephant habitats, children are taught the importance of protecting elephants and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

It encourages empathy and respect for the majestic creatures. Children are taught about the ecological roles elephants play, such as seed dispersal, forest regeneration, and the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.

Such understanding helps children recognise elephants as vital members of their shared environment, encouraging the protection of elephant habitats and reducing human-elephant conflicts in the long term.

A Success Story

The success of Hati Bondhu has drawn recognition both within the state and beyond. State government officials, forest officials, local leaders, and conservationists have acknowledged the impact of Hati Bondhu and recognised it as a pioneering model for mitigating human-elephant conflicts.

The initiative has inspired the film Hati Bondhu, directed by Kripal Kalita, which earned the 69th National Award for Best Narration, along with being the only film from Assam selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 53rd International Film Festival of India in 2022.

Currently, the team has been screening the film in various schools, colleges, and social gatherings to raise awareness about elephant conservation. The film is available online on their website.

One of the members, Parbati Barua, also known as “Hasti Kanya,” was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu for being the first female mahout of the world.

Hati Bondhu is presently constructing the Banti Bhuyan Memorial Elephant Care Centre near Chapanala in Nagaon district, near a plantation area, which is dedicated to Bhuyan’s late wife, who was closely associated with the project.

Once completed, the facility will provide free care and rehabilitation for elderly elephants that, because they can no longer generate income for their owners, become a burden and endure a life of neglect. The centre will have a capacity of about 15-18 elephants when fully operational.

Hati Bondhu earned praise from Prime Minister Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address in January 2025. When I contacted Bhuyan after the Prime Minister’s talk, he provided a detailed picture of the initiative’s successful outcomes.

Additionally, the initiative's sali rice cultivation on 200 bighas of community land has further minimised crop damage in over 200 villages.

Bhuyan also said Hati Bondhu has expanded its model to Thuramukh in Golaghat district, where 250 bighas of sali rice are cultivated to support migrating elephants from the Nambor and Bijuli Reserve Forests.

This initiative has safeguarded nearly 180 villages from crop raids, reinforcing the effectiveness of habitat restoration and food security strategies. The team hopes to replicate this approach in other conflict-prone areas in Assam.

The success of Hati Bondhu is, however, not defined by numbers or accolades, or appreciation alone. The work goes beyond protecting elephants or improving livelihoods — it is a story of love and co-existence between a community and the gentle giants that have shaped their land and culture for generations.

As Bhuyan puts it, the true essence of this initiative lies in “never letting the chain of love break.”