Dasara elephants return to their forest camps

The Dasara elephants which were the cynosure of all eyes during their 49-day stay in Amba Vilas Palace returned to their forest camps on Thursday.

The 14 pachyderms – Arjuna, Gajendra, Balarama, Abhimanyu, Varalakshmi, Sarala, Vikram, Vijaya, Harsha, Srirama, Gopi, Prashanth, Durgaparameshwari and Gopalakrishna – left for their respective camps in K Gundi, Balle, Dubare, and Thitimathi. They were accompanied by nearly 200 family members of mahouts and kavadis. 

All the elephants had gained weight, thanks to the nutritious food provided to them all these days by the government. 

Balarama’s weight increased by 665 kg. The elephant which weighed 5,535 kgs earlier, is now 5,810 kg. However, Sarala which is suffering from separation anxiety as its calf was weaned away before the festival began, had gained only 55 kg. She weighed 3,290 kg earlier and is now 3,345 kg.  

The increase in weight of the other jumbos in the past 49 days is as follows: Arjuna: from 5,535 kg to 5,810 kg; Gajendra: 4,755 kg - 5,072 kg; Balarama: 4,630 kg - 5,295 kg; Abhimanyu: 4,870 kg - 5,250 kg; Varalakshmi: 2,965 kg - 3,205 kg; 

Minister’s absence

The district administration gave a farewell to the jumbos, following puja perfromed by palace priest Prahlad Rao. However, district in-charge minister V Sreenivas Prasad was conspicuous by his absence in the event attended by officials, elected representatives, animal enthusiasts and other authorities concerned.  

When asked, a few Congress leaders said the minister was in Bangalore for a health checkup, while rumours did rounds that the minister kept off following the rift between him and the officials over Dasara passes.