The first group of nine elephants for Mysuru’s Dasara celebrations arrived at the palace on Sunday and underwent weight checks on Monday. Bheema, a 25-year-old tusker known as the “brother of Arjuna” and a crowd favourite, topped the scales at 5,465 kg, surpassing current howdah elephant Abhimanyu at 5,360 kg. The lightest was kumki elephant Cauvery, weighing 3,010 kg.
With foresters considering retiring Abhimanyu from carrying the golden howdah on the 5 km procession route due to age, Bheema could be the successor. Standing 2.85 m tall, calm-natured, and hailing from Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, he follows a tradition where Nagarahole tuskers like Dhrona, Balarama, Arjuna, and Abhimanyu have led the Dasara parade. The forest department avoids using lead elephants beyond 60 years, making Bheema — a regular since 2017 — an ideal choice. He is also taller than Abhimanyu and assists in tiger rescue operations.
The weigh-in took place at a Dhanvantri Road weighbridge. Officials confirmed all elephants will be given a special nutritious diet to maintain stamina until the procession. DCF (Wildlife) Prabhu Gowda praised Bheema’s fitness, noting his natural health-conscious behaviour. Rainy conditions won’t bother the elephants, he added, and mahouts and kavadis will be equipped with raincoats and umbrellas.
Elephant Weights (kg): Bheema – 5,465; Abhimanyu – 5,360; Ekalavya – 5,305; Dhananjaya – 5,310; Mahendra – 5,120; Prasantha – 5,110; Kanjan – 4,880; Lakshmi – 3,730; Cauvery – 3,010.