Dubare Forest Reserve is an elephant capturing and training camp of the Forest Department located in between Kushalnagar and Siddapur on the banks of Kaveri River in Coorg. The forest camp is about 50,000 acres in area which is one of the largest reserve forests in Karnataka and is about 10 kms from Kushalnagar.

Dubare Forest Reserve - The Elephant Capture and Training Camp:

Elephants have been in existence for millions of years. References to them have been found in Vedas and Ramayana and were used in battles in recent times. Elephants are considered one of the most intelligent creatures to exist on planet Earth today.

The population of the majestic creature is reducing day by day and is threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for ivory. There are lots of Elephant conservation projects undertaken by the government to protect the Elephants from such disasters. Dubare Reserve Forest is one among such conservation project in Coorg safeguarding the elephant population.

A little about elephant training:

The mahouts train the elephants very well as they are professionals in doing so. The elephants follow the commands of the mahouts and are capable of doing mock logging operations, like lifting, and stacking logs in a symmetrical pile.

Dubare has its own historical importance as the elephants for Mysore Dussehra were trained here. Visitors apart from spending quality time watching the wild elephants at the Dubare Elephant Camp can also participate in the playful activities of the elephants like feeding them sugarcane, coconuts or bananas which are elephants' favourites and going on a ride on the giant elephants around the forest. Visitors are also allowed to watch the Elephants being given a scrub-bath in the river Elephant grooming.

Attractions and activities in Dubare forest:

Elephant Grooming: Visitors can watch Elephants been given a scrub-bath in the River and also watch how oil is applied on their forehead, tusks and other aspects of Elephant grooming.

Elephant feeding: Visitors can watch the food being prepared for the Elephants and how they are fed. They can even participate by feeding the Elephants themselves - for this, we can give them some sugarcane, coconuts or bananas.

Commands: The Mahouts will then demonstrate the various commands the Elephants can obey. This can be vividly portrayed by making Elephants perform some mock logging operations.

Naturalist: While visitors are going through all these activities, a Naturalist will explain to them about all aspects of Elephant ecology, history, conservation etc. The visitor’s interaction with Elephants will be as participatory as possible. Further, a leaflet giving interesting information on the same will be given to visitors.

Elephant Ride: Finally, visitors will be taken on a 45 min - 1 hour Elephant ride into the Dubare Reserve Forest. Before, they get on to the Elephant they can watch how the Howdahs is actually tied etc.

Coracle Ride: Visitors have an option of going on a coracle boat ride (native boats, circular in shape made of bamboo and hide) on the River Cauvery. This facility is provided only between the months of November and May.

Monsoon River Rafting: During the months of July, Aug and September, JLR river rafts on the River Cauvery along the stretch adjacent to the Elephant Camp. Run by John Pollard and his team, rafting on the Cauvery – a gorgeous yet wild river during the rains, is an exhilarating experience.

Location details of Dubare forest:

Dubare Elephant Camp is located in the popular district of Coorg (Kodagu) and is easily accessible from Bangalore. The route from Bangalore is via Mysore, Kushalnagar, Gudde Hosur (4km from Kushalnagar on BM Road), then a left turn towards Siddapur. About the 15 kilometer on the Siddapur Main Road visitors would find a JLR Dubare Camp board. A left turn at the board and about kilometer drive would reach you bank of River Cauvery. Cross the river by a boat and you would be at the Dubare Elephant Camp