In order to maintain the fitness of the Dasara jumbos in different camps of Nagarahole National Park, a special diet has been started in advance to prepare them for the Gaja Payana, which will commence on August 28.
Apart from regular food items like paddy, neem oil, caster oil, coconut and jaggery, special foods such as maize and wheat powder, soya bean cake, boiled rice, green gram and puffed rice are being fed to the jumbos in the camps.
The beneficiaries of this special diet are Arjuna, Sarala and Varalakshmi in Balle camp; Abhimanyu, Balarama and Gopalaswamy in Matthigodu camp and Harsha, Vikrama, Prashantha, Gopi, Vijaya and Cauvery in Dubare camp. Arjuna, who will carry the 750 kg golden howdah on Vijayadashami, seems to be healthier and more enthusiastic.
Veterinarian KS Umashankar is monitoring the special diet of these elephants under the guidance of R Gokul, Director of Nagarahole National Park.
Other elephants who are not participating in the Dasara procession due to age-related health problems, including Rama, Ekadantha, Kanthi, Rama, Kokila and others will also be fed the special diet.
Sources in the Forest Department said that Durga Parameshwari in Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore will be shifting to K Gudi camp in BR Tiger Reserve on Saturday. The elephant will also participate in the Dasara procession in October.