Mysuru: With Mahendra failing the endurance test, Karnataka forest officials must now choose the Mysuru Dasara golden howdah elephant from the remaining contenders. Prashantha, 54, a seasoned participant for over 18 years, is among the frontrunners.A tusker at Dubare elephant camp, Prashantha is handled by mahouts JA Chinnappa and Kavadi Chandru. Captured in the Karekoppa forest area in 1993, he weighs 5,100kg.Five elephants were initially shortlisted, but Mahendra was ruled out after failing during rehearsals. The remaining four performed well in cannon-fire tests, wooden-howdah rehearsals and regular exercises, besides gaining weight — a key selection criterion, a senior govt official said. The final decision will be taken by authorities in Bengaluru.With Dhananjaya assigned to carry the golden howdah at Srirangapatna Dasara, established practice rules him out of the Mysuru event. The final contenders are now Prashantha, Ekalavya and Gopi.DN Nagaraj, a former veterinarian who led Arjuna, Balarama and Abhimanyu as lead elephants in the Dasara procession for nearly two decades, said selection involves assessing physical build, gait, emotional steadiness, endurance, obedience and temperament.The elephant must remain composed amid crowds and noise and during long hours on the road.Abhimanyu, who carried the golden howdah six times, has been rested after turning 60, following a Karnataka high court order barring elephants aged 60 and above from physically demanding tasks.The golden howdah, cushion, decorative clothes and other items weigh around 1,000kg. The lead elephant must carry this load for over two hours during the procession. The 5km route from Mysuru Palace to Banni Mantap Parade Grounds takes 70-80 minutes to cover.
