Surveillance on kitchen, public access as Jumboo Savari training picks up pace

Mysuru: The Forest Department has placed the Dasara elephant team under strict surveillance, installing 14 CCTV cameras around the Palace premises to monitor the animals round-the-clock.

Training sessions for the elephants have begun and their health is being closely monitored. Public entry into the elephant enclosure has been restricted. Cameras have been installed at strategic points to track the elephants’ movements and prevent unauthorised access.

Three locations, including the Kodi Someshwara Temple Yard, have been designated for tethering the elephants. Each location is under constant surveillance, with cameras positioned to capture clear footage of the animals.

RFO Yashma Machamma monitoring the live feed from the CCTV cameras.

Kitchen under watch

The CCTV system is being used not only to monitor the elephants’ movements and food supply but also to ensure strict compliance with the Stan-dard Operating Procedures (SOPs), particularly to prevent people from approaching the animals.

The food preparation area where nutritious meals for the elephants are cooked, has also been brought under CCTV coverage. Though entry is restricted to Forest Department staff and mahouts, cameras have been installed to ensure transparency and proper monitoring.

The feeds from all the cameras are relayed to a television screen at the storage centre near the kitchen, where staff monitor the visuals continuously. Senior officers, including the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), can also access the live feed on their mobile phones, allowing for close supervision.

Public access curbed

For elephant lovers and tourists, this year has brought disappointment. The enclosure, usually crowded with visitors, now wears a deserted look.

Following the tragic elephant attack at Dubare Elephant Camp earlier this year, in which a Chennai-based woman tourist and elephant Jayamarthanda died, the Forest Department has decided to strictly enforce the SOPs and not allow public access near the elephants.

Police and Forest Department personnel have been deployed along the approach roads to prevent unauthorised entry.

As a result, hundreds of visitors, including tourists who arrive to see the Mysore Palace, have been turned away from the Bhuvaneshwari and Trinayaneshwara Temple gates. Many have expressed frustration at being denied a glimpse of the Dasara elephants.

Training sessions draw crowds

With direct viewing of the elephants restricted, enthusiasts are now flocking to watch the Jumboo Savari route training sessions from the Palace till Bannimantap via the Sayyaji Rao Road. Large crowds gather every morning and evening to witness the rehearsals, which are gaining popularity by the day.

Yesterday morning, the fourth day of training, elephant Prashanth led the contingent. Wildlife enthusiasts thronged the Anjaneyaswamy Temple grounds near the Palace to watch the elephants march out.

Along K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road and up to Ayurveda College Circle, people offered flowers and bowed reverently to the elephants as they passed.

In the evening, elephant Dhananjaya led the rehearsal, which covered the stretch from the Palace premises to Govt. Ayurveda College. Once again, thousands of spectators lined the route, soaking in the grandeur of the Dasara elephant team.