Mysore/Mysuru, March 15 -- Of 78 elephants in 8 camps, 64 are males, 9 are females, 5 are female calves

Elephant camps in Kodagu and Chamarajanagar districts that supply elephants for the Mysuru Dasara festival are facing a noticeable shortage of female elephants.

According to data available with the Forest Department, of the 78 elephants housed across eight camps, 64 are males. There are only nine females, pointing to a significant gender imbalance. There are five female calves in two elephant camps.

Data with Star of Mysore shows that several camps have very few or no female elephants, raising concerns about breeding and the long-term sustainability of the captive herd.

At the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu, the largest camp in the ...