Two elephant calves raised at the Elephant Breeding and Training Centre in Khorsor, Chitwan National Park, are being sent to Qatar as a diplomatic gift. The elephants, named Rudrakali and Khagendra Prasad, will depart Nepal on December 17 following a farewell ceremony held in Chitwan.
The elephants, currently sheltered at Sauraha Hattisar, will first be transported by road from Chitwan to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. From there, they will be flown directly to Qatar via a chartered cargo aircraft.
Authorities have said that arrangements such as the construction of special crates and logistical requirements are necessary to transport the elephants to Bhairahawa a day in advance due to road conditions and flight schedules.
A special farewell ceremony will be held in Bhairahawa on December 17, after which the elephants will be flown to Qatar via a Qatar Airways cargo aircraft.
Rudrakali is seven years old, while Khagendra Prasad is six. Both were born and raised at the government-run elephant breeding centre inside Chitwan National Park.
The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) covered the cost of constructing the transport crates and other logistics. Construction of the crates began around the Dashain festival. Each steel crate measures 9 feet in height, 6 feet 8 inches in width, and 14 feet in length, weighing nearly three tons. Rudrakali weighs approximately 1,500 kilograms, while Khagendra Prasad weighs 1,600 kilograms.
The construction cost of each crate exceeded NPR 500,000 (USD 3,500). Although the initial estimate was NPR 497,000 (USD 3,480), costs increased due to design changes, according to Harisharan Pathak of Menka Engineering.
Once in Qatar, the elephants will be housed at the Al Khor Zoo in Doha. A team accompanying the elephants includes two mahouts, under the leadership of park animal technician Dinesh Dhakal. The team will remain in Qatar until the elephants are properly settled and managed before returning to Nepal.
Nepal has previously gifted wildlife such as the one-horned rhinoceros, tortoises, leopards, and a wolf to friendly nations as part of diplomatic and conservation cooperation. However, this marks the first time Nepal is gifting elephants to another country.
Since 1985, Nepal has presented 26 rhinos, 10 tortoises, one wolf, and two leopards to various countries. The decision to gift elephants to Qatar was first announced during the official visit of then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari to Qatar in 2018, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and showcase Nepal’s rich biodiversity on the international stage.
