In rare incident, female elephant Netravathi delivers baby on Dasara procession day

Sources in the camp stated that she had no symptoms of pregnancy and she had been tested negative during the pregnancy test conducted three months ago.

Shivamogga: In a rare incident, Netravathi, a female elephant, which had been brought from the Sakrebaiu camp to Shivamogga, for the Jumboo Savari to be held on Vijayadashami festival day (today), delivered a female baby in the premises of the Vasavi school in the wee hours of Monday.

Sources in the camp stated that she had no symptoms of pregnancy and had tested negative during the pregnancy test conducted three months ago. So, she had been sent to Shivamogga to take part in the procession. This was unexpected. The mother elephant and baby were shifted to the camp safely. With this, the number of elephants in the camp rose to 22.

The city corporation staff stated that Sagar and Hemavathi will take part in the procession slated to begin from Shivappa Nayaka palace around 2:30 pm and culminate at Freedom park in the city. But the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari will be taken out in a tractor.

Following the absence of Netravathi, Sagar will not carry any idol during the procession.

Notably, Bhanumathi, Netra and Sagar had been part of the Shivamogga Jumboo Savari for many years in the past. But this time, Hemavathi was brought in place of Bhanumathi as she was pregnant, and now, Netra has delivered a baby female elephant.