Chitwan, May 12
This fiscal year, the Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor of Sauraha, Chitwan, welcomed four calves. Only two calves were born at the Centre last fiscal year, while another elephant is due to give birth very soon. Centre’s Chief Manapuran Chaudhary said Tamor, Rimjhim, Loktantra and Tirthaman Kali became mothers this time. Kali gave birth to a female calf, while the other three calves were male.
The Centre is presently a home to nine adult elephants, one trained calf and six young calves. Elephants have the longest pregnancy among land mammals, lasting around 22-24 months. Last year, two elephants from the Centre were sent to Qatar as gifts. Established some 40 years ago in 2044 BS, the facility has so far recorded 68 births.
Male wild elephants regularly visit the Centre for mating with the female elephants. Dhrube, Ronaldo, Gobinde and Makuna (who died last year) were among the bull elephants courting females during mating season here.
Likewise, two other wild bulls, Bheemgaj and Shergaj, have also started visiting the Centre since this month. Ronaldo and Shergaj had a brawl recently, spreading terror among other pachyderm and their keepers. Claves born at the facility are trained and sent to CNP posts for duties.
