CHITWAN: A famous wild bull elephant known as ‘Ronaldo’ has been found dead in the Sauraha-Khorsor area of Chitwan National Park.
The approximately 53-year-old elephant was discovered near the Bishahajari post and has since been cremated according to religious rites.
During the post-mortem examination, an electric wire was found in the elephant’s mouth, leading officials to suspect that it may have died from electrocution.
Avinash Thapa Magar, conservation officer and information officer at Chitwan National Park, stated that the exact cause of death will only be confirmed after a thorough investigation. The park administration is treating the incident seriously.
Ronaldo was well-known as a ‘celebrity’ elephant in the Sauraha-Khorsor region and had a long-standing connection with the local elephant breeding and training center.
According to chief conservation officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun, Ronaldo was the father of many calves born at the center. Records show that out of 69 calves born at the center up to June 2026, 38 were sired by Ronaldo.
Named after the football star Cristiano Ronaldo, the elephant was highly popular among tourists and locals for its large size and agile nature. Ronaldo had sustained various injuries from fights with other elephants, including the loss of its tail.
The death of the elephant marks the end of an era for a prominent wild elephant in the Sauraha-Khorsor area.
