Sugreeva, a tusker from the Dubare elephant camp, weighed 5,850 kg during a routine health assessment, making it the heaviest of the 12 elephants currently stationed at the Mysuru palace for the Dasara celebrations.
The second batch of three elephants—Sugreeva, Chaira from Ramapura and Roopa from Doddaharave—arrived on September 13 and were weighed on September 15. Chaira and Roopa recorded 3,295 kg and 3,260 kg respectively. The weigh‑bridge test was conducted during rehearsal, after which all 12 elephants marched along the procession route.
Sugreeva’s weight exceeds that of Srikanta, who led the first batch at 5,790 kg. In addition, Ekalavya (5,600 kg), Dhananjaya (5,530 kg), Mahendra (5,490 kg), Prashantha (5,205 kg) and Gopi (5,170 kg) also surpassed the 5,000‑kg mark, while Srirama, Lakshmi and Kaveri weighed 4,820 kg, 3,990 kg and 3,075 kg respectively. The first batch was brought to Mysuru on August 26 as part of the Gajapayana and officially welcomed onto palace grounds on August 28.
Rehearsals have attracted large crowds, prompting the Forest Department to request public cooperation and the police to deploy additional personnel to protect both elephants and spectators. A special puja for the elephants was held on Ganesha Chaturthi, attended by Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy and other officials. Temporary shelters and nutritious food have been arranged for the elephants, mahouts, kavadis and their families to help them gain weight and maintain fitness for the Jamboo Savari.
