Chitrasenkali, an elephant aged 12, gave birth to a female calf at the Parsa National Park (PNP) in Amalekhgunj on Saturday. 

The newborn elephant has been closely monitored by park officials, who are happy to welcome a new member in the PNP. 

“The birth of an elephant is a conservation gift,” said park’s Chief Conservation Officer Haribhadra Acharya. 

The PNP estimates the baby weighed around two quintals and three feet in height at birth. “It’s a great advantage for us,” said Manpuran Chaudhary, officer of Hattisar in the park. “Both the mother and calf are doing well.”

Chitrasenkali was brought in to the PNP from the Elephant Breeding Centre in Khorsor, Chitwan in August 2005. After a gestation period lasting 23 months, Chitrasenkali gave birth to the calf—the first baby of Hattisar, park officials said. “We were guarding Chitrasenkali round the clock for the last two months,” said Jalendra Prasad Chaudhary, who was a caretaker of the mare. 

Usually, an elephant gives birth to its calf in 20-22 months. Out of 10 female elephants in the Hattisar, only four, including Chitrasenkali, are adult. Others are in between 50 to 80 years old now. The four elephants were brought in to the PNP from India in exchange for four rhinos a few years ago.