Golden howdah carrying Dasara elephant Arjuna dies in rescue operation in Hassan

Mysuur, NT Bureau: Arjuna, one of the famous Dasara elephants which carried the Golden Howdah from 2012 to 2019 and also participated for 22 years in the Naada Habba Dasara celebrations died after he attacked by a wild elephant during a rescue operation, at Yasalur in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district on Monday.

The wild tusker attacked Arjuna which succumbed to stomach injuries and deep wounds it sustained when the forest department was conducting the operation to capture tuskers tormenting villagers in various villages of Sakleshpur, Alur, Belur and Yeslur ranges of Hassan.

The forest department has stopped the operation following the incident. According to Nagarhole Tiger Reserve project director Harshakumar Chikkanaragunda, the sixty -four- year old Dasara elephant was sent on November 23 from Balle camp for the elephant capture operation in Hassan division.

Tamed elephants, including Arjuna, were brought in to conduct the operation to fix radio collars on nine wild elephants that were tormenting the villagers in Belur taluk.