Mahouts and cavadis take COVID test

Five elephants along with mahouts and cavaids who have come to participate in the famous Dasara festivities commencing here from October 17, agreed to undergo the test after an interaction with District Health officials as a precautionary measure.

We are from the forest region with better immunity when we have no symptoms, why should we undergo the test, they argued, however, after much persuasion by Dr R Venktesh conducted tests.

They were so reluctant initially that they got into an argument with health officials. If we have to undergo a test, even our elephants will have to be tested, the staff of the health department intervened and convinced them that the tests were important, since the positive cases have been increasing in the city. (Agency)