Fifty-six elephants gathered at the Baghmara Forest office premises near Sauraha on Wednesday for an annual “elephant picnic” featuring 20 varieties of food to mark World Elephant Day.

Private elephants used for jungle safaris, government elephants deployed by Chitwan National Park for patrolling and research, and elephants belonging to the National Trust for Nature Conservation’s Sauraha office took part in the event.

Mahouts brought the elephants, which were decorated for the occasion, to the venue, where tables were laden with food. The elephants were allowed to pick from a variety of fruits and treats.

World Elephant Day is observed on August 12 each year. For the past several years, elephant owners and conservation agencies in the Sauraha area have marked the occasion by bringing elephants together for a communal feast.

The event, now in its 15th year, was organised by the United Elephant Management Cooperative Limited, formed by private safari operators, in coordination with various agencies and organisations.

“Because elephants are closely linked to tourism, private operators in Sauraha and Chitwan have also been involved in their conservation. We are committed to animal welfare, and the well-being of elephants also benefits tourism entrepreneurs,” said Dipendra Khatiwada, chairman of the cooperative.

The spread included paddy, chickpeas, jaggery, carrots and sugarcane. Sweet rice pudding made with jaggery, their regular feed known as kuchi, and salt were also served.

The elephants were also offered apples, bananas, watermelons, dragon fruit, papayas, guavas and pears, as well as local pumpkins, pineapples, green maize and bread.

Tourists and local residents gathered at the venue to watch the elephants pick and eat their preferred foods.

Dil Bahadur Purja Pun, chief conservation officer of Chitwan National Park, inaugurated the event by feeding fruits and other treats to a young elephant.