Pall of gloom over Drona’s sudden death

Mysuru Dasara will miss both Senior and Junior Dronas

Mysuru: Mysuru Dasara will miss Drona. The male elephant died of a suspected heart attack yesterday at Mathigodu Elephant Camp near Thithimathi in Kodagu inside the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. The end of the 39-year-old jumbo came when it was quenching its thirst.

Drona first participated in Dasara in 2017 and continued in 2018 and was considered as a worthy successor for the older Drona of the Balle Elephant Camp, one of the lead Dasara elephants of the Jamboo Savari, that had carried the Golden Howdah for a record 19 years prior to his death in 1998 when the tusker came in contact with a high tension wire while foraging for fodder. The senior Drona was 62 years when he died.

As per the elephant camp authorities, the incident took place at around 11 am when the tusker went to drink water from a nearby water tank but suddenly collapsed and died. Drona had reportedly been showing sign of illness since yesterday morning.

Mahout Ravi and Kavadi Gundu and forest workers, who saw Drona faint while he was drinking water, rushed to give him first aid, but in vain, sources said.

Drona died young, considering that the average lifespan of elephants in captivity is 60 years.

“The elephant had a heart attack. The exact reason will be determined after the post-mortem,” Dr. Mujeeb, veterinary doctor of Nagarahole Elephant Camp, said.

Drona was in the camp for the last six years and was captured as a rogue elephant in 2014, in Aluru forest range (Yesaluru and Maadalli forest) in Hassan district and was tamed later in Moorkal camp of Nagarahole National Park. After taming, he was sent to Mathigodu camp, where he was named “Drona” by the Mahouts, for his magnificent looks and intelligence. In fact, Drona was tamed in just two years.

Later on, Drona was used to capture and tame other rogue elephants. His services were utilised in Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and Biligirirangana Betta forests. Drona has also helped in capturing tigers.

Drona’s caretakers describe him as “quiet and gentle.” Drona was 2.69 metres tall, 3.40 metres long and weighed nearly 4,330 kgs, according to camp authorities. Drona had a wide back and this had made him a fit choice to carry the Golden Howdah.

The Forest Department had already decided that Drona would succeed the present Howdah Elephant Arjuna in another four to five years. In 2017 and last year, the tusker had moved majestically along with other elephants, bringing cheer among Drona’s caretakers and Dept. officials.

A pall of gloom has descended on Mathigodu elephant camp following Drona’s demise.

Veterinarian D.N. Nagaraju said that he was shocked to hear about Drona’s death. He said that samples of viscera have been sent to the laboratory and the cause of death will be revealed in one or two days.