CHITWAN: The Elephant Breeding Centre in Khorsor, Sauraha has welcomed four elephant calves during the current fiscal year.
According to Centre Chief Manapuran Chaudhary, elephants named Tamor, Rimjhim, Loktantra and Tirthaman Kali gave birth this year.
Among the newborns, Kali delivered a female calf, while the other three elephants gave birth to male calves.
Only two calves had been born at the centre during the previous fiscal year, and officials say another elephant is expected to give birth soon.
The breeding centre currently houses nine adult elephants, one trained calf and six young calves.
Elephants are known to have the longest pregnancy period among land mammals, with gestation lasting around 22 to 24 months.
Established around 40 years ago, the centre has recorded a total of 68 elephant births so far.
Officials said wild male elephants frequently visit the centre during mating season. Wild bulls including Dhrube, Ronaldo, Gobinde and Makuna — which died last year — had regularly visited the facility.
Two other wild bull elephants, Bheemgaj and Shergaj, have also begun visiting the centre since this month. According to officials, Ronaldo and Shergaj were recently involved in a fight that caused panic among other elephants and their caretakers.
Calves born at the facility are later trained and deployed to posts within Chitwan National Park for official duties.
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