Elephant Breeding Center | Bhaktapur

Information

Landmark: Elephant Breeding Center
City: Bhaktapur
Country: Nepal
Continent: Asia

Elephant Breeding Center, Bhaktapur, Nepal, Asia

The Elephant Breeding Center is a conservation facility located at Baadreni Road, Bharatpur 44204, in the Sauraha region of Chitwan National Park.

Visual Characteristics

The center consists of open-air stables and enclosures surrounded by tropical forest. It features mother elephants and calves in various stages of growth. Informational signage and a small museum detail elephant biology and the history of the center.

Location & Access Logistics

Access: Located approximately 3-4km from the center of Sauraha. Reachable via bicycle, walking, or a short rickshaw/jeep ride.

River Crossing: Accessing the center usually requires crossing the Rapti River by small wooden canoe.

Hours: Daily from 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Entry Fee: Approximately 50-100 NPR for foreigners (subject to change).

Historical & Ecological Origin

Established in 1985 by the Government of Nepal, it is one of only two such centers in the world. Its primary objective is to increase the population of domesticated elephants used for park patrolling, anti-poaching operations, and research, as the wild population remains endangered.

Key Highlights & Activities

Calf Observation: Opportunity to see young elephants and twins (rare in the wild).

Feeding Time: Visitors can observe handlers (mahouts) preparing "kuchi" (nutritional balls of rice, molasses, and salt) for the elephants.

Information Center: A small museum provides data on elephant gestation (22 months) and training techniques.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Museum: On-site exhibit with elephant skeletons and historical tools.

Restrooms: Basic public facilities are available.

Connectivity: Moderate 4G signal; no Wi-Fi provided.

Best Time to Visit

Feeding Sessions: Arrive during early morning hours to observe the preparation of food and interaction between handlers and calves.

Climate: Visit during the dry season (October–March) to avoid muddy paths and high river currents.

Facts & Legends

The center is home to the famous bull elephant "Romeo," known for siring many of the calves born at the facility. A technical oddity of the center is its successful breeding of "wild-domestic" hybrids, as wild bull elephants frequently visit the center to mate with the resident females.