Mysuru: The number of elephants taking part in the forthcoming Dasara festival has been reduced to 12 as against last year when 15 jumbos took part.

Several changes have been made and this year two new faces will be introduced to the herd of jumbos while five from last year have been dropped.

Sources say that on an average only 10 to 12 elephants are brought in for Dasara, but last year the forest department insisted on increasing the numbers on the grounds of giving more exposure to new potential elephants.

Among 15 elephants, which took part last year, five elephants-Gajendra (62), Krishna (56), Harsha (50), Prashanta (61) and Bhima (17) will not be part of this year Dasara. The two new elephants, which will be part of this year’s Dasara are 37-year-old Dhananjaya from Dubare elephant camp and 46-year-old Chaitra from Bandipur Elephant Camp.

Chaitra who took part in 2015 Dasara procession couldn’t to take part in 2016 and 2017 Dasara procession as she gave birth to a female calf in 2016. Last year, among 15 elephants, 12 were male elephants and three were female elephants, while this year among 12 elephants 8 will be male and four will be female.

Last year, the overall expenses for Dasara elephants came up to about Rs 1.1 cr, including the resplendent Gajapayana.

The details of elephants taking part in Dasara this year are here:

*Arjuna (58), Male from Balle Elephant Camp.

* Balarama(60), Male from Thitimathi Elephant Camp.

* Abhimanyu (52), Male from Thitimathi Elephant Camp.

*Gopalswamy (35), Male from Mathigowdu elephant camp,

*Vikrama (44), Male from Dubbare elephant,

*Gopi (35), Male from Dubbare elephant camp,

*Drona (37), Male from Mathigodu Elephant Camp.

*Dhananjaya, (37), Male from Dubbare Elephant Camp

* Vijaya (60), Female from K Gudi Elephant Camp.

* Kaveri (39), Female from Dubare Elephant Camp.

*Varalakshmi (61), Female from Mathigodu Elephant Camp.

*Chaitra(46), Female from Bandipur Elephant Camp