Dasara Elephant Abhimanyu Retires at 60 After Carrying Golden Howdah Since 2020

Iconic Dasara elephant Abhimanyu has retired from his duties at the age of 60, concluding a 20-year participation in the annual Mysuru Dasara procession. Since 2020, the tusker had carried the 750kg golden howdah during the historic festivities.

Alongside his ceremonial role, Abhimanyu served as an accomplished kumki elephant for the Karnataka Forest Department. Over his operational career, he assisted forest officials in capturing more than 300 wild elephants and 80 tigers during operations aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

According to Kumar Pushkar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden for Karnataka, Dasara elephants are selected from 14 elephant camps across the state. A specialized team of experts, including veterinarians, reviews each animal's health records, temperament, and responsiveness to mahout commands.

Forest officials noted that elephants with any history of indiscipline are excluded due to the massive crowds and loud sounds present during Dasara celebrations. Two to three candidate elephants are shortlisted and trained to carry the howdah, with the final selection made in the last 10 to 15 days before the event.

The selected elephants undergo rigorous preparation in Mysuru, including daily walks through city streets alongside their mahouts to acclimate to urban sounds and crowds. Prajna Chowta, founder of the Aane Mane Foundation, highlighted that the bond between mahouts and elephants remains vital to managing the animals safely in crowded environments.

Most elephants selected for Dasara duties are trained kumkis, which are essential for accessing dense forest areas inaccessible to vehicles and protecting forest staff and veterinarians during tranquilising operations. Traditional camps such as Dubaare in Matigod and Nagarhole in Madikeri have historically trained these elephants. Officials stated that while an elephant begins obeying commands within three months of entering a wooden kraal, it requires a minimum of three years of training to become eligible for Dasara.