13-14 kgs daily for male jumbos; 11-12 kgs for females

Mysuru: The first batch of nine Dasara elephants which have arrived in city from various elephant camps to participate in the world famous Jumboo Savari and housed in Mysore Palace premises, are being given special care and are put on special nutritional diet.

Conservator of Forests (Mysuru Circle) Dr. S.S. Ravishankar informed that male elephants are being fed 13 to 14 kgs of special food while female elephants are fed with 11 to 12 kgs twice daily.

In all, a total of 66 to 700 kgs of fodder, including special food, for male elephants and 500 to 600 kgs for female elephants are being fed daily. Like every year, a food list is prepared and food is being provided to Dasara jumbos accordingly to supplement their strength.

What is given as special food?

The special nutritional food consists of green gram, horse gram, urad grains, rice, salt, onions, radish, carrot, beetroot, cucumber and other vegetables. The jumbos are also fed leaves and green grass too.

The above ingredients are cooked with utmost care for six to seven hours and fed in the mornings and evenings after the jumbos complete their training. The Dasara jumbos are kept on special diet from the day their weights were checked.

Avalakki, curds for the first time

For the first time, the jumbo squad is being fed with avalakki (flattened rice, beaten rice, or rice flakes) and curds as an additional supplement to keep their bodies cool and to prevent them from musth. This diet is being fed once a day on a daily basis, officials informed. Importance is given to fibre-based food while food containing protein and carbohydrates are cooked and fed.

Too much weight gain is not healthy

Gaining excess weight is not good for the health of jumbos. Last year, Bheema had gained 500 kgs more weight as he was consuming the leftovers of other elephants while other elephants had gained about 200 kgs more weight. This year, food is being provided according to the diet chart, officials said.

Second batch to arrive soon

The second batch of three Dasara elephants are expected to arrive shortly and the date of their arrival will be informed soon, the Conservator of Forests  (CF) said.

Abhimanyu’s arrival and weight training

‘Combing Star’ Abhimanyu, who will be taking part as ‘Nishane’ elephant in this year’s Jumboo Savari will arrive in city 15 days before the grand finale and the weight training for the jumbos will commence from today evening, the CF informed.

Mahendra will be carrying sand bags as part of the weight carrying training today.  

Maintain safe distance from Dasara elephants

As huge crowd is gathering to see the elephants during their walk on Jumboo Savari route, the Conservator of Forests has urged the people to maintain safe distance from the elephants and not agitate  them or feed them.