Dec 14, Kathmandu - Chitwan National Park's Elephant Breeding and Training Center in Khorosor is set to send two baby elephants to Qatar on Pous 2 (around December 16-17). The elephants, Ruddra Kali and Khagendra Prasad, who grew up at the breeding center and underwent training at Sauraha Elephant Sanctuary, are scheduled for export.

According to Dr. Haribhadra Acharya, Information Officer of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the elephants will be sent via charter cargo flight from Bhairahawa Airport on December 17. The transportation has been arranged to coincide with flight schedules and road conditions, with preparations underway to transport the elephants from Sauraha the day before.

The elephants are destined for Al Khor Park Zoo in Doha, Qatar. Ruddra Kali is seven years old, and Khagendra Prasad is five. They are offspring of Pooja Kali and Koshi Kali respectively. The father of both elephants is the wild male elephant Ronaldo, as confirmed by Manipurun Chaudhary, Head of the Elephant Breeding Center.

At the Khorosor Elephant Breeding Center, female elephants like Pothee are often impregnated through natural mating with strong male elephants such as Ronaldo, Dhruva, and Govindesh. The decision to gift elephants to other countries is part of the government’s initiative, with all procedures completed for the export.

The Nepalese Wildlife Conservation Fund has built enclosures in Sauraha to accommodate the elephants. The elephants, along with wildlife technicians led by Dinesh Dhakal, will be transported by truck to Lumbini International Airport for cargo shipment to Qatar. Alongside the elephants, two mahouts from the national park will also accompany them to assist with management upon arrival.

Nepal has a history of gifting wildlife to friendly nations to strengthen diplomatic relations and promote international awareness of Nepal’s rich biodiversity. According to Acharya, this marks the first time Nepal is exporting elephants as gifts to another country.

Established in 2044 B.S. (1987 AD) with 20 elephants from India, Myanmar, and Thailand, the breeding center has since given birth to 68 elephants, with 61 receiving training. Of these, six have died.

Previously, Nepal has gifted 26 rhinos, 10 gharials, one buffalo, and two leopards to various countries since 1985. During her visit to Qatar in 2075 B.S. (2018 AD), then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari had committed to gifting elephants to Qatar. Following diplomatic procedures, Nepal is now proceeding with this initiative.