Second batch of Dasara elephants reach Mysore Palace

The second batch of Dasara elephants, including debutants Krishna and Drona, reached Mysore Palace on Thursday to take part in the Jamboo Savari scheduled for September 30.

The officials, including Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, also Dasara Special Officer, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mysuru Circle P B Karunakar, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) V Yedukondalu, welcomed the elephants at Palace’s Jayamarthanda Gate.

The second batch of jumbos, including Gopalaswamy (35), Vikrama (44), Gopi (35), Harsha (50), Krishna (56), Drona (35) and Prashanth (61), all tuskers, joined the first batch, comprising howdah elephant Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu, Bheema, Gajendra, Kaveri, Varalakshmi and Vijaya.

According to the officials, all the elephants are healthy and will be on training for jamboo savari from Friday. The first batch of elephants are already being trained for the same.

Elephant Krishna, Gopalaswamy and Drona attached to the Mattigodu elephant camp under Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Vikrama, Gopi, Harsha and Prashanth, are from Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu District.

In order to keep the elephants physically fit, they will be offered a balanced diet and nutritious food including urad dal, green gram, wheat, boiled rice, onion, vegetables, rice, groundnut, coconut, jaggery and sugar cane during the rehearsals.