Historic c-section performed on elephant at Chitwan National Park

KATHMANDU: A healthy calf was delivered via a successful c-section performed on an elephant at the Elephant Breeding Center of Chitwan National Park on Wednesday.

Both the mother, Gandakikali, and the newborn calf are in good health, according to the park officials.

According to Dr Bijaya Kumar Shrestha, a veterinary doctor at CNP, this is the first time that a c-section has been performed on an elephant in Nepal. Gandakikali had been in labor since Tuesday morning.

“The decision to proceed with the c-section was made as a prolonged labor could have endangered both the calf and the mother,” Shrestha said.

Park officials say the procedure lasted almost two hours.

This is Gandakikali’s second calf. Three years ago, she gave birth to a calf naturally.

Since 1995, a total of 62 calves have been born at the breeding center, as per CNP officials.

(With inputs from RSS)