Khedda

A khedda (or Kheddah) or the Khedda system was a stockade trap for the capture of a full herd of elephants that was used in India; other methods were also used to capture single elephants.^[1] The elephants were driven into the stockade by skilled mahouts mounted on domesticated elephants.^[2][1] This method was practiced widely in North-east India, particularly in the state of Assam,^[3] mostly in South India,^[4] and in particular in the erstwhile Mysore State (now part of Karnataka) state.^[5]

The khedda practice and other methods of trapping or capturing elephants have been discontinued since 1973 following the enactment of a law under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, declaring the Indian elephant to be a highly endangered species. In the case of elephants which cause extensive damage by encroaching into human habitations and damaging crops, the forest department has the authority to capture them.^[3]