Dasara veteran, jumbo Balarama no more
2 min read
Mysuru: The 67-year-old Dasara veteran elephant Balarama died after a brief illness at Bheemanakatte Elephant camp in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Forest near Hunsur on Sunday.
A gental giant loved by everyone when it ambled with 750-kg Golden Howdah, with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, during Jamboo Savari, the last leg of Mysuru Dasara for 14 long years since 1999 and till his retirement in 2011, he was the cynosure of all eyes.
As a howdah carrier, Balarama had performed his role, without any complaints.
He was even still a part of Dasara for some more years, but as a Nishane elephant in Jamboo Savari.
He was captured in 1987 at Kattepura forest near Somwarpet in Kodagu region.
On December 15, 2022, Balarama was in the news again, for being shot at, after it strayed into an agricultural field, near the forest fringes of Periyapatna, when it was let out in the night for grazing. However, he recovered due to the timely treatment by forest Veterinarians.
Recently his health condition deteriorated and was on liquid diet.
DCF of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Harshakumar Chikkanaragund stated that “Forest Department had taken every efforts to treat Balarama. It was responding well to the treatment, but today unfortunately was his last day. The last rites will be performed tomorrow (May 8) with all due respect to him”.
The book, titled ‘Aane Banthondaane – Balaramana Gajapayana,’ is the only biography of Balarama elephant. Originally written in English (Balarama’s Story – An Elephant’s Journey) by Alladi Jayasri and D K Bhaskar and translated into Kannada by C R Naveen.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
