Abhimanyu carries wooden howdah near the North gate of Mysuru Palace
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: Nine elephants to be part of the Dasara celebrations will leave Veeranahosalli near Hunsur on August 4 with Abhimanyu to continue as the frontman tasked with carrying the golden howdah (‘ambari’) weighing about 750 kg.
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday released the list of nine of the 14 elephants to be part of the Dasara celebration. He said Abhimanyu, who has been the lead elephant in the celebrations since 2020, will take his position this year as well.
Placed in Nagarahole’s mattigodu camp, the 59-year-old Abhimanyu has been used extensively in rescuing over 300 elephants and 80 tigers in conflict situations. The other elephants include Bhima (25) from Mattigodu camp, Kanjan (24), Dhananjay (44), Prashanth (53), Kaveri (45) and Lakshmi (53) from Dubare camp, Mahendra (42) from Balle camp, and Ekalavya (40) from Doddaharave camp.