KATHMANDU: Upon the return of the Emir (King) of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bil Hamad Al Thani, from his visit to Nepal, a video circulating on social media purportedly shows two elephants being loaded onto a truck, presumed to be en route to Qatar.

In the viral footage, the elephants are depicted using a tool to climb onto the truck’s platform, allegedly named Rudrakali and Khagendra Prasad, supposedly gifted by Nepal to Qatar.

This scene has stirred emotions among many Nepalis witnessing the video.

However, it has been confirmed that the elephants in question are not the ones designated as gifts to Qatar by Nepal.

Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, the information officer of Chitwan National Park, clarified that the elephants named ‘Rudrakali’ and ‘Khagendra Prasad’ are residing within the park premises.

“The process of transporting the elephants has not commenced,” he said.

“Upon observation, it’s evident that the elephants in the viral video are not from Nepal,” he added.

Tiwari further emphasized that Rudrakali and Khagendra, slated for Qatar, remain in Chitwan.

According to the Ministry of Forests and Environment sources, the legal and technical procedures for transferring the gift elephants to Qatar are still pending.