Forest Department officials will choose suitable elephant to carry golden howdah this year: Ramalinga Reddy - The HinduPublished - August 28, 2026 08:10 pm IST - MYSURUForest Minister Ramalinga Reddy | Photo Credit: File PhotoForest Department officials will choose a suitable elephant to carry the golden howdah during the Vijayadashami procession in Mysuru this year.Fielding queries from reporters in Mysuru on Friday, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy said department officials would recommend which elephant is best suited to carry the golden howdah after the elephants undergo training.Abhimanyu, who successfully carried the golden howdah for the last six years, has been retired from Dasara duties on turning 60.The first batch of nine elephants arrived at Mysuru Palace on Friday. The final selection of the elephant to carry the Ambari, or golden howdah, will be made after the training phase is completed, Mr. Reddy said.Hanur incidentFielding queries on the death of three persons in an encounter with Forest Department officials in Hanur recently, Mr. Reddy said the department would probe violations of the Wildlife Act, while the government had handed over the probe into the disturbances following the incident to the CID.The CID will investigate the destruction of anti-poaching camps, damage to buildings belonging to the Forest Department, and the setting on fire of vehicles following the encounter in the forests.Mr. Reddy said the magisterial probe entrusted to the Assistant Commissioner by the Deputy Commissioner of Chamarajanagar was a separate matter. The Assistant Commissioner’s report will be submitted to the Chief Secretary, who will in turn forward it to the Chief Minister. The magisterial probe, he clarified, is distinct from the inquiry taken up by the CID.Responding to a question about fear among forest personnel, Mr. Reddy said there was no need for department staff to be afraid, and assured them of protection. He said he had spoken to the Deputy Inspector General of Police as well as the Superintendent of Police to ensure their security.“If the world is to survive, forests must survive,” he said, adding that no trouble or inconvenience should be caused to the general public by Forest Department personnel.Published - August 28, 2026 08:10 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }