Mahendranagar, October 4:

Employees of the elephant breeding centre at Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Pipariya are pretty busy these days.

Their hands are full ever since Rupakali gave birth to a calf after years. More than Dashain, the arrival of the jumbo junior has made them happy. Three of her calves died as Rupakali did not breast-feed them. The employees have been working hard to save the fourth calf, which was born on September 21.

Indra Bahadur Chaudhary, an employee of the reserve, is full of hope. “All of Rupakali’s calves died for want of love and care. This time, she is taking good care of her calf,” Chaudhary said.

Karna Bahadur Bam, another employee, said Rupakali and her calf were doing well. He said the lactating elephant was being given sugarcane, banana, grams and calcium dozes. “We have taken the birth of the calf as a gift in the festive season,” Bam said.

There are six elephants, including the calf, in the reserve.