Mysuru, 2 July

Forest department officials intensified a drive for selection of jumbos that will take part in the historic jamboo savari Vijayadashami procession by visiting various elephant camps. The move comes a week after Dasara high power committee decided to celebrate the festival on a grand scale and cleared the proposal to allow jumbos in Mysuru on 4 August. State government has over 100 tamed elephants in different elephant camps. Of them, 25-30 will be listed as eligible elephants based on their behaviour and temperament, which will be examined by a team of foresters, including vets, to select them for the celebrations. Usually, about 14 elephants are finalised for the festival. The final 15 will be officially announced in the second week of July, officials said.