Khorsor Elephant Breeding Centre’s latest member—an adorable male baby elephant—made its appearance on Thursday morning.

The yet-to-be-named calf is the offspring of Loktantrakali, a 12-year-old female elephant and Dhurbe, the infamous rogue bull elephant that killed 15 people in a span of four years in Chitwan before going out of contact in 2013. Two years ago, Dhurbe had come in contact with Loktantrakali.

Most visitors at the park quip after Loktantrakali’s name and for a good reason: she was born in Khorsor on the day when the movement of 2062/063 BS (2006 AD) gained success after 19 days of protests across the nation with the restoration of Parliament that was rendered ineffective by then king Gyanendra Shah. The name Loktantrakali was seen as a fitting choice for the newborn, heralding a new beginning.

Her mate Dhurbe is also popular although with some notoriety, and his wayward ways. In 2013, the killing spree of Dhurbe and the ensuing hunt for him by the Chitwan National Park (CNP) authorities had grabbed national headlines.

At that time, a large team was deployed to put down the “killer” elephant, but that was not to be.  

According to Bed Kumar Dhakal, chief conservation officer at the CNP, Dhurbe was sighted around Shukibhar forest area of the park two years ago. “I have been informed that Dhurbe and Loktantrakali’s tryst took place two years ago,” said Dhakal.

“The newborn is the fifth calf in the breeding centre this year,” said Budhan Chaudhary, section officer at the Khorsor Elephant Breeding Centre.  

Employees of the elephant breeding centre were visibly excited to welcome the new calf into the family. Elephants of the breeding centre usually mate with wild elephants. With the new addition, the number of calves in the elephant breeding now stands at 48.