Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday mourned the death of Gopalaswamy - a popular elephant part of Dasara celebrations in Mysuru. Gopalaswamy died Wednesdayfrom injuries sustained in a fight with another elephant in Mysuru’s Hunsur.
Bommai tweeted, "Gopalaswamy, who has beenparticipating in the world-famous Mysore Dussehra Jumbo Savari procession, died in a fight with a wild beast at Mattigodu camp in Hunsur. I pray for the soul of Gajaraj. Om Shanti."
According to media reports, Gopalaswamy encountered a wild tusker Tuesday morning and he suffered multiple injuries in the fight that followed.
Though his caretakers tried to intervene and separate the elephants, the fight escalated and the treatment given to Gopalswamy after the fight went in vain.
{{/usCountry}}Though his caretakers tried to intervene and separate the elephants, the fight escalated and the treatment given to Gopalswamy after the fight went in vain.
{{/usCountry}}The elephant had multiple fractures which caused internal bleeding. "We tried our best to save Gopalaswamy but we lost him on Wednesday afternoon," a forest official told a local news channel.
The 39-year-old tusker has been participating in Mysuru Dasara celebrations for the past few years. Goapalaswamy was captured from Hethur forest region atKarnataka’s Haasan district in 2009 and he was placedat Mattigodu camp in Kodagu district.