Arjuna gains 380kg during Palace stay

MYSORE : Balarama, who carried the golden howdah for 13 years, gained the most weight of 605kg during its stay at palace for nearly 50 days. Last year, among the 14 elephants including Arjuna, which carried the golden howdah, Balarama gained the most weight of 665kg.
Arjuna which weighs 5850kg, the highest among all 14 elephants, gained only 380kg during its stay this year.When he was brought here, he weighed 5470kg and on the last day, he weighed 5850kg. The gain is more compared to last year when it put on 250kg. Among the female Dasara elephants, Mary gained 370kg, the most. When she was brought here, she weighed 3035kg but on the last day, she weighed 3405kg. Varalakshmi gained the least weight, just 65kg -- she came here at 3260kg and left at 3325kg.
In the run-up to the Dasara festival, the elephants are put on a strict diet which is designed to ensure more fat and muscle. The diet plan by senior veterinarians includes boiled cereals and pulses with onions and salt, jaggery, coconut and sugarcane. The quantities of protein, grams, pulses, sugarcane, vitamins and green grass vary for the elephants. A team of 50 persons, including 14 mahouts and their assistants, ensures the safety of the jumbos. The elephants are also given liver tonic, vitamin and mineral supplements and B complex tablets.
Veterinarian Dr Nagaraj, who was in-charge of the elephants said, "They're quite like human beings - while some gained weight, others did not."