Bheema Crowned Heaviest Dasara Elephant

Speedy Summary

• Bheema, a young tusker, weighed 5,465 kg at a weighbridge on Monday, surpassing the lead elephant Abhimanyu (5,360 kg) in weight during pre-training preparations for Mysuru’s famed Jamboo Savari.
• A total of nine Dasara elephants underwent weight checks after arriving from jungle camps; this is customary to optimize their diet and ensure fitness for the grand procession and related activities.
• Abhimanyu carries the 750-kg golden howdah and has an exemplary record in Dasara tasks as well as forest operations like capturing wild elephants or tigers.
• Other notable weights include Dhananjaya (5,310 kg), Ekalavya (5,305 kg), Mahendra (5,120 kg), Prashanth (5,110 kg), Kanjan (4,880kg), Lakshmi (3,730kg) and Kaveri (3.010kg).
• Bheema’s weight increased considerably compared to last year when it was 4,945 kilos. Conversely, Abhimanyu saw a slight decrease from its previous year’s 5.560 kgs.
• Deputy Conservator of forests Prabhu Gowda emphasized that this weighing exercise helps plan protein-rich diets tailored to their needs before training begins.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The annual preparation of Dasara elephants focuses not only on ceremonial grandeur but also embodies meticulous attention to animal welfare through tailored diets and health monitoring. The increase in Bheema’s weight may reflect improved care protocols within forest department camps. though, Abhimanyu continues to symbolize consistency due to its impeccable service history despite a slight drop from last year’s measurement.

This tradition highlights India’s ability to merge cultural heritage with conservation practices by involving veterinarians and forest experts throughout the process.Regular data collection on these elephants ensures they are conditioned not just for public events but also their roles in vital wildlife management operations-a balance between tourism value and environmental stewardship that deserves recognition.

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