On a protein-rich diet during their stay in Mysuru, the Dasara elephants, a major attraction during the festivities, returned to their forest abode on Sunday weighing heavier.
The elephants, which thrive on foraging in the forests consuming paddy straws and other grasses available in the nature, enjoyed a protein-rich diet comprising food grams and other supplements including vitamins, said D.N. Nagaraj, Forest Department Veterinarian, who is in charge of the elephants.
The special diet also comprised jaggery, sugarcane and cereals mixed with various food grams and was necessary to prepare the elephants for their rigorous Dasara regimen that included twice a day trek from the Mysuru palace to Bannimantap, carrying sand bags.
The elephants arrived in two batches — six on September 2 and the others on September 14.
Debutante Dhananjaya, a 35-year-old elephant from Dubare forest range, gained the most weight. Weighing 4,045 kgs on his arrival in the first week of September, Dhananjaya tilted the scales at 4,570 kgs on departure.
Balarama went up from 4,910 kgs to 5,390 kgs and howdah elephant Arjuna gained from 5,650 kgs to 6,110 kgs.
Prashantha, a male elephant, was the only one that lost weight during his stay in Mysuru.
Prashantha, who suffered from diarrhoea in the initial few days of his arrival in Mysuru, lost 340 kgs.
The Dasara elephants, however, normally shed the added weight within weeks of their return to their forest camp, where they resume their normal diet.
