Abhimanyu has successfully led nearly 110 animal rescue operations across the country and is a known name especially in tiger operations.
During 1990, the menace of wild elephants at Saraguja in Chhattisgarh was high. The elephants created a havoc, raiding localities and claiming human lives.
When Abhimanyu was sent to Chattisgarh, he successfully stopped the wild elephants on rampage in nearly 90 villages. The deadly operation that was, it was filmed for a documentary titled “The Last Migration – Wild Elephant Capture”. Abhimanyu was the centre of attraction in that documentary, which also bagged Green Oscar Award.
Since then, Abhimanyu became a legendary elephant and made Karnataka Forest Department proud.
Abhimanyu is nicknamed AK-47. He is so brilliant in elephant capture and rescue operations that, he is the only elephant in Nagarahole who has captained many risky operations.
Abhimanyu is also the most sought after for forest veterinarians too. In the case of tiger operations, tranquilising the big cat is a hard task. So veterinarians and tranquilising experts always choose Abhimanyu to spot the violent tiger and dart it without missing the aim.
Abhimanyu joined forest department in 1977. He was captured near Kodagu Hebballa forest range and is sheltered at Mattigodu elephant camp. He weighs 4850 kg, 2.68 mt tall and 3.51 metre length. He has the experience of participating in Dasara for 19 years and was diligently performing the role of pulling “Aane Gaadi” the elephant cart with the artistes of music band on board, during jamboo savari.
Abhimanyu’s mahout Vasantha is a skilled caretaker who has also participated in various elephant rescue workshops across the country and also Indonesia.
Abhimanyu who is coming to Mysuru on October 1, will camp at Arnaya Bhavan for a day, before ambling into Palace premises on October 2.
– Team Mysoorunews
