Dasara elephants put on a special diet

With the first batch of nine Dasara elephants having arrived and the forest department having started rehearsals for the world-famous Dasara procession, the authorities have put the elephants on a balanced diet at the Mysore Palace.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Mysuru

The forest authorities, on the advice and supervision of veterinarians, are feeding nutritious food so that the elephants led by Abhimanu gain weight and muscles to carry the Golden Howdah on the five-kilometer Dasara procession that will conclude at Bannimantap.

DCF (Wildlife) Prabhu Goud said that they are feeding 450 to 500 kilos of branch, around 170 to 200 kilos of green grass and close to 40 kilos of fodder paddy and hay. He added that 10 to 12 kilos of concentrated food or special food was also being fed to the elephants.