CHITWAN: Chitwan National Park (CNP) is preparing to send two elephant calves, Rudrakali (7) and Khagendra Prasad (6), as diplomatic gifts to Qatar, according to Dr. Hari Bhandra Acharya, spokesperson for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
The calves, born at the Elephant Breeding and Training Centre in Khorsor, will be transported via a chartered cargo flight from Bhairahawa Airport within the next two months. The park is currently constructing a special enclosure to ensure their safe transfer.
Both calves share the same father, a wild male elephant named Ronaldo. Khagendra Prasad’s mother is Koshi Kali, while Rudrakali’s mother is Puja Kali.
Nepal occasionally gifts animals such as elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses to friendly nations to strengthen bilateral relations and showcase the country’s rich biodiversity. The Elephant Breeding and Training Centre, established in 2044 BS, has recorded the birth of 68 calves so far. This is the first time elephant calves from the centre are being gifted abroad.
Since 1985, Nepal has gifted a total of 26 rhinoceroses, 10 gharials, one wolf, and two leopards. The promise to send elephants to Qatar was made during then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s visit to the country in October-November 2018.
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