Elephant birth through surgery for first time in Nepal

By Basanta Parajuli,Sauraha, Mar. 9: For the first time in Nepal, an elephant from Chitwan National Park delivered her baby through Cesarean Section (C-section). Gandakikali delivered her calf through C-section at the Elephant Breeding Centre in Khorsor, Sauraha on Wednesday. 

The C-section was conducted by a team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Bijay Kumar Shrestha, said the chief of the breeding centre, Mani Puran Mahato.

Gandakikali had been suffering from labour pain for the last two days and she was not able to deliver her baby naturally, Mahato said. Dr. Shrestha, who was involved in the C-section, said that it was the first case in Nepal to deliver an elephant’s baby through a C-section. “We did the procedure after the calf was stuck inside Gandakikali for many hours,” he said.

The stitching process will be conducted within two to four days after the uterus becomes clean, he added. The C-section was conducted by giving local anaesthesia.

Gandakikali is 25 years old now. This is her second delivery. Three years ago, during her first delivery, the calf was delivered with the help of rope but the calf could not be saved because it was right in position, Dr. Shrestha said.

Even after a newborn was given artificial oxygen as it was unable to breathe soon after birth. “Now the calf is healthy,” Dr. Shrestha said.

Foreign doctors were also involved in the C-section of Gandakikali. Canadian veterinarian Dr. Niki Master, who is in Nepal for a visit, was also involved in the process, according to the breeding centre. Other veterinarians, including Dr. Amir Sadaula and Dr. Bipalka Karki, were also involved. 

Earlier, an elephant with a calf died in 2002 when she could not deliver. A female elephant carries her baby for 22 to 24 months inside her. The breeding centre, which was established in 1986 delivered 62 calves. Staff working in the centre have their own skills to identify pregnant elephants. 

According to Chatur Lal Chaudhary, a mahout in the breeding centre said that the size of the breasts of the female elephant will increase within four months after she mated. It will take 22 to 24 months to deliver her baby, Chaudhary said.