The Vanishing Art of Capturing and Taming Wild Elephants among the Khamti Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh: An Overview Through Oral Tradition.

Human–animal relationships have profoundly shaped the evolution of civilizations, influencing economic activities, religion, warfare, transportation, and social life. These contributions were possible only because humans mastered the art of capturing and taming wild animals. However, modern generations often overlook this legacy as machines replace many traditional animal roles. Without understanding the historical importance of animals, we risk undervaluing the foundations laid by our ancestors. In this context, the present study adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach to examine the traditional techniques of capturing and taming elephants practiced by the Khamti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Key words: Human civilization, animals, art of capturing and taming, khamti tribe, elephant.