Mysuru: Forest officers at the Balle Elephant Camp at Nagarhole Tiger Reserves are playing cupid, and have brought in a mate for the majestic 55-year-old Arjuna, which carries the howdah at the Mysuru Dasara procession. Arjuna’s latest female companion is Lakshmi from Dharmasthala, who is 12 years old.
Lakshmi has been sent to the Balle camp to help her mate with Arjuna and conceive. Authorities at Dharmasthala, who wanted to add to their herd of two elephants including Lakshmi at the pilgrimage town, had requested the forest department for help, said Nagarhole veterinary officer Dr Umashankar K.S.
Nearly six months ago, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade had written to Chief Conservator of Forests, Nagarhole, Gokul, requesting him to allow Lakshmi to stay in any of the elephant camps run by the forest department.
The request has been approved and all the paper work has been completed, Dr Umashankar said. “Lakshmi will stay in Balle camp for two months to facilitate her pregnancy. It is the right time for the female elephant to be at the camp as Arjuna is in heat,” he said.
The cost of maintaining an elephant is Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per month and Dr Heggade has already handed over the money to the Forest Department. Lakshmi arrived at Balle camp with two mahouts on May 10 night. “Arjuna and Lakshmi are getting along well,” he said. Arjuna already has a nine-year-old mate Ramani at the camp.
