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Shivamogga elephant mishap renews debate over use in Dasara processions

Shivamogga elephant mishap renews debate over use in Dasara processions

A trained elephant ran amok during the Shivamogga Dasara procession in Shivamogga, Karnataka, prompting renewed debate over elephant use in religious festivals. The state Forest Department said it will consider stricter conditions for permitting elephants in future religious and cultural processions. A Mysuru‑based expert working with the Forest Department warned that many captive elephants are taken from the wild and that their bodies are not designed to carry heavy loads such as the Golden Howdah. Suparna Ganguly, trustee of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, said “elephants are sensitive to noise and may become distressed by firecrackers, loud music, crowds and traffic.” Raman Sukumar, former chairman of the Karnataka Elephant Task Force, suggested mechanised elephants or a lighter ambari as alternatives, noting that existing government directives and court orders already limit certain elephant activities.

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