Abhimanyu nears retirement; Prashanth, Gopi, Dhananjaya and Mahendra next in line
Mysuru: The selection of elephants for this year’s Dasara festivities has reached the final stage, with Forest Department officials preparing to train four elephants, Prashanth, Gopi, Dhananjaya and Mahendra, alongside veteran Ambari carrier Abhimanyu for the prestigious task of carrying the 750-kg Golden Howdah.
A total of 20 elephants from Mathigodu, Bheemanakatte, Dodda Harave, Dubare, Balle and Rampura elephant camps were examined, of which 14 will be finalised for the Dasara contingent.
Preparations are already underway for the first batch of nine elephants, including the Ambari carrier, to arrive in Mysuru on Aug. 26.
‘Ambari’ challenge
Abhimanyu has carried the Golden Ambari with distinction since 2020. At 59, he is nearing retirement and this year is expected to be his final year as the Ambari carrier. With Abhimanyu’s retirement approaching, the Forest Department has taken up the task of preparing successors and decided to train four elephants intensively for the coveted role.
Who will succeed Abhimanyu?
Known for his strength and for his role in capturing wild elephants, tigers and leopards, Abhimanyu has earned titles such as ‘AK-47’ and ‘Combing Star.’ However, elephants have to retire after crossing 60 years, making the search for his successor particularly significant.
Among the four elephants identified for training, 54-year-old Prashanth is widely seen as the most likely successor.
Prashanth is the senior-most elephant in the Dasara contingent after Abhimanyu. He was captured in 1993 from Karekoppa forest in Shivamogga and has since been nurtured at the Dubare elephant camp. Standing 2.61 metres tall and 3.46 metres long, he weighs around 4,800-kg and has participated in Dasara for 16 years.
Handled by Mahout J.A. Chinnappa and Kavadi Chandra, Prashanth is known for his disciplined gait and has also participated in wild animal capture operations. Observers believe he has the potential to become the captain of the Dasara elephant team by 2027.
Gopi, who has been part of Dasara for 15 years; Dhananjaya, who has participated in the Jumboo Savari for eight years; and Mahendra, who is taking part for the fourth time, will also undergo Ambari training from this year.
Strength of the contingent
All male elephants selected for the Dasara contingent are considered capable of shouldering the demanding responsibilities of the festival. Karnataka’s Mahouts are renowned for their expertise in training elephants, enabling them to carry Golden Ambari smoothly through the crowds during Vijayadashami procession.
Any tusker weighing between 4,500-kg and 5,000-kg is capable of accomplishing this feat. Training new elephants will help secure successors for the coming years, said Gautam, a wildlife enthusiast.
14 Dasara jumbos to be finalised this evening
The list of 20 elephants has been taken to Bengaluru by a team of Forest Department officials, who will finalise the selection in consultation with the Forest Minister and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).
Sources said, the process was delayed as the officials could not meet the Minister due to the ongoing Assembly Session yesterday.
However, the list of 14 jumbos out of the 20 will most likely be finalised by this evening.
This post was published on August 18, 2026 7:30 pm