Wild male elephants vie for control of Sauraha breeding centre after Ronaldo’s death

Chitwan, November 13 A power struggle is intensifying among wild male elephants for control of the Sauraha Elephant Breeding Centre after the death of ‘Ronaldo’. The well-known 45-year-old male elephant died on September 19 after chewing an electric wire laid at a Nepali Army post near Bishahajari Lake in the Barandabhar area. Since Ronaldo’s death, competition over who will take his place has grown at the centre.

Govinde took control of the center for nearly two months after Ronaldo died. Another male elephant, Subedigaj, is now taking Govinde’s place, said Manpuran Chaudhary, chief of the breeding centre. “No male elephant could stand up to Ronaldo.

Now that he is gone, the competition over who will hold the centre has intensified,” Chaudhary said. “Three male elephants are fighting, and Dhrube has yet to show up.” According to Chaudhary, a male elephant named Bhimgaj also came to the centre for a few days about a month ago. Subedigaj has since replaced him.