Mysuru: The first batch of six Dasara elephants which was welcomed to the Mysuru Palace on Monday underwent weight test on Tuesday. Weight test is a regular process, which determines the diet and special supplements that the elephants will be put on to be able to handle the Dasara responsibilities. Out of the six elephants, Arjuna (59), the Howdah carrier from Balle camp weighed the highest at 5,800kg, while 62-year-old Vijaya from Dubare Elephant camp weighed the lowest at 2,825kg.
Another elephant, Abhimanyu (59) from Muthigodu Elephant Camp weighed 5145kg, which is second highest. 37-year-old Dhananjaya and Eshwara (49) from Dubbare elephant camp and Varalakshmi (62) from Muthigodu elephant camp weighed 4460kg, 3995kg and 3510kg respectively. It is said that due to good rains facilitating the growth of lush green vegetation, coupled with enough care and attention from the forest department, the pachyderms are already in good health.
Veterinarian Dr Nagaraj who is looking after Dasara elephants for more than a decade said “Special food supplements will be supplied to elephants to get ready for ‘Jamboo Savari’ on Vijaydashami Day. Usually, the special supplement is provided for 50 days, but this time the elephants have come to the palace only 40 days before the festival. So, this time it is a little tricky to say how much weight they can gain,” he said.
These elephants will be put on a special diet which includes rice balls mixed with jaggery, vegetables, coconuts, sugarcane, pulses including green gram to gain additional weight and will start rehearsing in a couple of days on procession route twice a day to get acclimatized to the noise and crowd. Usually, the Dasara elephants are brought 50 to 55 days well before the commencement of Dasara so that they get acclimatized to the routes and get ready to shoulder more weights on their back but this year due to various reasons including flood and political development the elephants were brought to palace on Monday.