Howdah elephant Arjuna, known to throw his weight around for attention, has the mass to justify his claims for special treatment. For, he is the heaviest among the first batch of six Dasara elephants.
The elephants camping in the city were weighed on Thursday in the run-up to their preparations for the festival to be held in October.
It is routine for these gentle giants from the jungle camps to be weighed and subjected to health assessment, after which they are provided special ration during the training period. This is to ensure that they are fit in all respects to withstand the rigours of the procession and the festival.
Though the events are being scaled down in view of the drought and farmers’ suicide, the procession will be held as usual and there is no respite for the elephants; hence the preparations.
Arjuna, who is endowed with the responsibility of carrying the howdah on the day of the procession, weighed 5,445 kg. His weight has remained near-constant as he weighed 5,470 kg on arrival last year. However, not only is he the heaviest, but given the onerous task of carrying the 750-kg howdah, is justified in seeking special treatment due to him.
His predecessor Balarama, who weighed 4,970 kg when he checked in last year, weighed 4,835 kg, having shedding considerable weight. Abhimanyu, who is around 49 years, weighed 4,975 kg and is heavier by 175 kg compared to last year when he measured 4,800 kg on arrival.
Vikrama was relatively lightweight at 3,675 kg and has shed some weight as he measured 3,820 kg last year. Chaitra, who was 3,462 kg in 2014, has “slimmed down” significantly and the scale stood at 2,800 kg on Thursday, while Kaveri weighed around 2,900 kg compared to 3,152 kg last year.
Officials said the elephants will be provided with special ration, comprising rice balls mixed with jaggery, vegetables, coconut etc., and be subjected to periodic medical tests. All the elephants were found to be fit and their training session will commence in a couple of days.
