Veteran tusker withdrawn from procession after health and age review
Mysuru: The Forest Department has officially retired Abhimanyu, the long‑time lead elephant of the Mysuru Dasara jumbo squad, from Dasara duties after he completed 60 years in April, confirming that the tusker will not participate in this year’s festivities.
The decision, announced after selection meetings in Bengaluru, was taken following assessments by a team of forest officials and veterinarians who reviewed the health, fitness, temperament and behaviour of elephants housed in various camps. Although Abhimanyu’s name had initially appeared on a provisional list of candidates for Dasara, the team removed him from the final roster in view of the department’s age limit policy and the animal’s welfare.
“We had no option. Abhimanyu attained 60 years earlier this year. We cannot use elephants once they cross 60... Nevertheless, they will be remembered forever for their majesty and the responsibilities they handled over the years,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prabhu Gowda, according to the Forest Department.
The finalised contingent comprises 12 elephants to be deployed for the Mysuru Dasara festivities, with an additional two named as reserves. Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy released the list at Bengaluru on Tuesday in the presence of Prabhu Gowda. The roster reflects the department’s protocol of selecting animals only after detailed medical and behavioural evaluations.
- Abhimanyu retired from Dasara duties after reaching the age of 60.
- Twelve elephants were finalised for this year’s Dasara; two more were kept as reserves.
- Selection followed joint assessments by forest officials and veterinarians across elephant camps.
Forest officials said the annual selection involves physical examinations, review of medical histories and observation of temperament in camp conditions before shortlisting candidates. Age norms have been cited as decisive in recent years: the department has moved to relieve elephants from heavy public duties once they cross the 60‑year threshold to prioritise their health and long‑term care.
For many Mysuru residents and visitors, Abhimanyu had become a familiar symbol during the Dasara pageant, often carrying the golden howdah and drawing large crowds to the procession route. Officials conceded that it would be difficult to picture the mega‑event without the veteran tusker, but emphasised the need to follow welfare considerations.
| Elephant | Age (years) |
|---|---|
| Abhimanyu (retired) | 60 |
| Dhananjaya | 45 |
| Mahendra | 42 |
| Ekalavya | 41 |
| Prashantha | 54 |
| Gopi | 43 |
| Srirama | 41 |
| Sugriva | 44 |
| Lakshmi | — |
Officials noted that two elephants were named as reserves, though the department did not publish their identities in the initial release. Selection of Dasara elephants typically draws from camps across Karnataka and involves collaboration between the Forest Department’s field staff and veterinary teams to ensure the animals are fit for the ceremonial roles, which include long hours and exposure to large crowds.
The retirement follows earlier moves in which other senior animals, such as Arjuna, were also relieved of festival duties on account of age. The department’s stance underscores growing attention to captive elephant welfare and the complexities of balancing tradition with animal care.
With Abhimanyu stepping down, attention will shift to the lead elephants named for this year’s Dasara procession and how ceremonial arrangements will be adapted. Organisers and forest staff will work together in the coming weeks to finalise procession roles, training schedules and veterinary support measures to ensure both public safety and animal well‑being during the festival.
Community members, previous volunteers associated with the jumbo squad and festival regulars are expected to mark Abhimanyu’s retirement with reflections on his years of service to the Mysuru procession and calls for continued emphasis on humane treatment of captive elephants used in public pageantry.
