'Ane Habba' spreads delight

The utsav being talked about is the ‘Aane habba’ (Elephant Festival) that was organised by the Wildlife Division of the Forest Department as part of 54th Wildlife Week at Dubare Elephant Camp near Kushalanagr on Wednesday.

The festival was punctuated by screams of delight and whistles from children. Accompanied by their parents, they were all cheering for their favourite jumbo.The camp was organised to create an awareness among the public about the need for conservation of wildlife and forests, apart from entertaining them.

However, it was all worth it because elephants did not disappoint them, for they ran, played soccer and performed various tricks as per the commands of their mahouts. They took part in nearly 16 entertainment games.

As per the commands of their mahouts, they were seen sleeping in the middle, reverse walking, running, walking together by holding each other’s ears, walking by holding each other’s trunks, playing football. Children along with their parents were given a chance to bathe the tuskers.

Children were seen feeding the tuskers with sugarcane, jaggery, coconut, banana, ‘Ragimudde’etc. Elephants Parashurama (7), Shivagange (9), Ranjan (12), Mayur (22), Gopi (29) played football with the help of Elephant Vijaya (50). Indra (34), Chandra (24), Maithili (45), Ekadanta (41), Theertharama (17), Kapila (28), Ajeya (21), Srirama (36), Cauvery (33) bagged attention but five-month old calf Vijaya and seven month-old Kapila stole the show. The elephants were decked with Dasara costumes and jewellry.