H.D. Kote, June 28 -- Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre unveils statue of famed elephant at Balle Camp in Nagarahole forest

Over a year after his death, Dasara elephant Arjuna came alive, immortalised in a statue, at Balle Elephant Camp, D.B. Kuppe Forest Range, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve forest in the district yesterday.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre unveiled the statue of Arjuna, which is 3 metres tall and 3.7 metres long, weighing 650 kg, which cost an estimated Rs. 20 lakh. Artist Dhananjaya of Mangaluru carved the statue, that replicates the elephant, which had carried Ambari (Golden Howdah) for eight years in Nada Habba Mysuru Dasara.

Arjuna had died during an operation to capture a rogue elephant at Yeslur in Sakleshpur taluk, Hassa...