Mysuru: For the forthcoming Dasara celebrations scheduled from September 21 to 30, the forest authorities have shortlisted 16 elephants including five new ones to get approval from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Bengaluru. Last year, 12 elephants had taken part in the Dasara celebrations. This year the authorities have decided increase the number.

On July 13, during the nearly two-hour meeting at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru, headed by Chief Conservator of Forest of Mysuru Circle Karunakara which was presided over by chief conservators of forest from Madikeri and Chamarajanagar, attended by directors of Bandipur and Nagarhole and DCF (Wildlife) Yelukondala, among 20 elephants which they had earlier shortlisted, four were dropped and a proposal sent for 16 elephants for PCCF’s approval. All the elephants that took part in the Dasara celebration last year have been shortlisted for this year except Durga Parameshwari who is pregnant.

Speaking to Newskarnataka, V Yelukondalu, DCF (Wildlife) said, “Among the 20 elephants, based on their health condition and other required parameters including their physique, field performance, look, tusk, general approach and others we have shortlisted 16 elephants. We added five more this year including a replacement for a pregnant elephant, so that so that they could get trained and accustomed. The new elephants which will be part of this year’s team are 35-year-old Drona, 17-year- old Bheema, 56-year-old Krishna, all male elephants while the two female elephants are 61-year-old Varalakshmi and 60-year-old Sarala. In four to five days time we will get approval from PCCF and the same communicates to persons concern.”

The last year’s batch of elephants retained in the list includes howdah elephant Arjuna, Balarama, Gopalswamy, Cauvery, Vikrama, Abhimanyu, Vijaya, Gajendra, Prashantha, Gopi and Harsha.