Six Elephants from Kodagu Selected for 2025 Mysuru Dasara, Led by Abhimanyu

File photo of Abhimanyu carrying the golden howdah during the Mysuru Dasara procession. Photo: Shobha Karandlaje/X.com

Madikeri/Mysuru: As the grandeur of Mysuru Dasara draws near, six majestic elephants from the verdant forests of Kodagu district have been handpicked to play key roles in the iconic celebration. Among them is Abhimanyu, the 59-year-old tusker from Mathigodu Elephant Camp, who will once again carry the golden howdah, leading the procession in all its regal splendour.

Abhimanyu’s selection as the lead elephant comes as no surprise to those familiar with his legacy. Captured from the Heggala region in Kodagu back in 1970, he has been trained and nurtured at the Mathigodu Camp, and boasts an impressive record participating in over 300 elephant captures and assisting in more than 80 tiger capture operations. Since 2020, he has consistently been the centrepiece of the Dasara procession, earning him a place of honour among Karnataka’s forest department elephants.

In total, six out of the 14 elephants selected for the 2025 Dasara celebrations hail from Kodagu, a region long associated with Karnataka’s elephant conservation efforts. Alongside Abhimanyu, the chosen few include Dhananjaya (44), Cauvery (45), and Kanjan (26) from the Dubare Elephant Camp, as well as Bheema (25) and Ekalavya (40) from Mathigodu.

Sources in the Forest Department have confirmed that these elephants will be shifted to Veeranahosahalli, at the edge of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve near Hunsur, on August 3. There, they will begin their acclimatisation and training for the grand event including exposure to loud noises, crowds, and city traffic ensuring they are calm and composed during the 10-day spectacle.

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