The last rites of Dasara elephant Balarama were performed at the Bhimanakatte elephant camp on Monday complete with traditional rituals besides a gun salute.
The 67-year-old gentle giant who carried the golden howdah 13 consecutive times in the Mysuru Dasara from 1999 to 2011, had died on Sunday after battling tuberculosis.
The carcass was garlanded and flower petals showered on it and the last respects were paid by senior Forest Department staff including Chief Conservator of Forest of Mysuru Circle Malathi Priya, Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve C. Harshakumar, Deputy Conservators of Forest P.A. Seema, Sourabh Kumar, Sharana Basappa and other staff.
