Farewell to the Two Elephants Gifted to Qatar by Nepal (Photo Feature)

Two elephants, Khagendraprasad and Rudrakali, donated to Qatar as a gift by the government of Nepal, are all set to be send from Chitwan to Bhairahawa. They were raised in Chitwan National Park, and a farewell ceremony was organized, according to the department of Wildlife Conservation.

Dr. Ganesh Panta, the chief conservation officer at the park, stated that both the elephants will be transported to Bhairahawa and then flown to Qatar directly from Qatar Airways from Bhairahawa international airport on 17 December.

In addition, one veterinarian and two handlers will be sent for one month to take care of the elephants during the journey.

Considering the weather adaptation and transportation system the elephants will be sent from Bhairahawa. The government has confirmed that they will be formally handed over to Qatar on the same day. While Nepal has prviously gifted rhinoceros to various nations, this is the first time the elephants are being presented.

According to senior ecologist and information officer Haribhadra Acharya, all the procedures for the transfer to Qatar have been completed. Khagendraprasad is a 6-year-old male elephant, while Rudrakali is a 7-year-old female. Both were born and raised in Chitwan national park’s elephant reproduction and training center Khorsor.

The government had announced that it would present the two elephants to Qatar during the formal visit of Qatar’s king Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.