Makuna’s demise likely to affect elephant breeding

By Basanta Parajuli,Narayangadh, Feb. 8: Makuna, a wild elephant that played a crucial role in breeding domesticated elephants in Sauraha, has died. 

Makuna was shot by Chitwan National Park (CNP) security personnel while attempting to drive it back into the forest after it wandered into human settlements on Wednesday. 

Due to the absence of male elephants in captivity, Sauraha relies on wild elephants like Makuna for breeding. Makuna’s death on Wednesday afternoon has raised concerns about the potential impact on elephant reproduction. 

Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Ganesh Pant said Makuna was frequently seen near human settlements, creating disturbances. The fatal incident occurred while security personnel were trying to guide the elephant back into the jungle.

Dr. Pant said, “It was often spotted in Sauraha mainly for mating. This time, when we attempted to send it back to the forest, it suddenly attacked the elephant carrying the park security team. As the security personnel were at risk, they fired in self-defense, resulting in its death.”

He said that wild elephants like Makuna have been essential in supporting the reproduction of domesticated elephants.

The incident took place in the Lamital area of the Kumroj Community Forest, within the Sauraha sector of CNP. Makuna attempted to attack an elephant named Churegaj, which was part of an anti-poaching patrol. 

After firing two warning shots, the elephant did not retreat and instead attacked another park elephant, Khagendra Prasad. During the attack, ranger Shyam Tamang fell from the elephant, prompting security personnel to fire in self-defence, Dr. Pant said.

According to Nepal’s National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 (1973), Section 21, security personnel are permitted to use firearms in situations of self-defense. Though Makuna had previously caused property damage, it had never harmed humans. The elephant was first spotted in Chitwan last year in Mangsir (November/December) and reappeared in Ashoj (September/October) of this year.

Makuna frequently visited human settlements for mating with domesticated female elephants. During mating season, elephants become aggressive. Currently, four wild elephants, including Makuna, regularly visit Sauraha for this purpose. 

Kiran Rijal, a technical expert at the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), said that Makuna’s presence contributed to five female elephants in Sauraha being pregnant.

CNP and the Elephant Breeding Centre house 53 elephants, while private ownership accounts for 45, totalling 98 in the Sauraha area. Most of these are female elephants, which rely on wild elephants for reproduction.

Manipuram Chaudhary, Chief of the Elephant Breeding Centre in Sauraha, confirmed that Makuna was a frequent visitor to the centre. “We cannot say for sure that all pregnancies resulted from Makuna, but it was a regular visitor,” he said. Other wild elephants, including Ronaldo, Dhurbey, Nanapatekar and Govinde, also visit the center for mating.