Debate On Diplomacy And Empathy On Social Media Over Elephants Sent From Nepal To Qatar

Kathmandu: The farewell and relocation of two juvenile elephants, ‘Khagendra Prasad’ and ‘Rudrakali’, gifted by the Nepal government to Qatar, has sparked widespread debate on social media. On Wednesday, the two elephants flew to Doha from Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa aboard a special Qatar Airways Boeing 777 cargo plane. Some have described the move as a diplomatic success, while many others have portrayed it as an injustice to innocent animals.

Videos of six-year-old Khagendra Prasad and eight-year-old Rudrakali, born at the elephant breeding center in Khorsor of Chitwan National Park, being locked inside a large iron cage and boarded onto the aircraft are being widely shared on mainstream and social media. According to airport information officer Binod Rawat, the combined weight of the elephants and the cage was about 5,000 kilograms. Religious rituals were performed before they were formally handed over to representatives of the Qatari government.

Along with the elephants, two mahouts and a veterinarian who have cared for them for years have also traveled to Qatar. They are expected to stay at Al Khor Family Park and Zoo in Doha for a month and train local staff in elephant management.

However, the farewell of Khagendra Prasad and Rudrakali was not merely a diplomatic event. For Mahout Budhilal Shrestha, it was a deeply painful moment, like sending his own child to a foreign home. He was forced to leave behind the elephant he had fed, cared for, and loved for years, and return after sending it to a desert country.

In this context, animal welfare organizations including Animal Nepal and Elephant Watch Nepal have criticized the government’s decision. “It is deeply distressing and worrying that animals that can feel love, pain, and form deep social relationships are being sent to a desert country in a box. Qatar is not a natural habitat for elephants, whether Asian or African,” Animal Nepal said.

The organization further stated, “Rudrakali and Khagendra Prasad grew up in the humid subtropical monsoon climate of Chitwan, where temperatures drop to five degrees Celsius in winter. In terms of climate, diet, habitat, and management, they will be forced to adapt to almost impossible conditions at Al Khor Family Park and Zoo.”

Public outrage has flooded social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. Facebook user Dev Paudel wrote, “Why was a priceless elephant gifted to Qatar when it did not take the initiative to free our country’s promising young man Bipin Joshi from Hamas’s captivity?”

Another user expressed anger, writing, “What a shame to send elephants in a box to a country from where the bodies of Nepali youths arrive in five sealed boxes every day.”

Journalist Santosh Deuja drew a comparison with Australian wildlife and said, “If there are no kangaroos in Nepal because the environment is not suitable, how will Nepal’s elephants be happy in Qatar?”

Shobha Chhetri wrote on Facebook, “Honestly, no living creature should be given or received as a gift. No matter how well it is cared for, it has no meaning. They should be allowed to live freely in their natural habitat.”

Shekhar Paudel wrote, “We request the Qatari government to remember that these are not just elephants. They carry the hearts and emotions of Nepalis. We can only hope they are kept safe with more love, respect, and better living conditions than humans.”

Risha Bhi Pyakurel wrote, “Your fate was also in the Gulf.”

Bishnu Pokharel wrote, “Let’s not sell wildlife. Think about how dear our home is. These animals are also sentient beings. Selling animals from our own country to please another country is sinful and unworthy. We must understand this and raise our voice against it.”

Similarly, Vashanta Shahi wrote, “Tears fell from my eyes as an innocent animal was taken away. Will they ever return after leaving their homeland? They are being forced out, just as many Nepalis long to return home from abroad. May those who sent them never find peace. Lord Mahadev, you have two eyes and a third eye. Open it and punish such sinners.”

Tenzing Norbu Lama wrote, “It was extremely touching and heartbreaking. I was at Bhairahawa airport. All media outlets were covering it like a celebration, but I did not see anyone speaking for those innocent creatures. My friend and I discussed how painful and terrifying it must have been for them. They may receive care in Qatar, but they will never be able to return home in this life. They will always remember the freedom, happiness, and belonging they had in Chitwan.”

Khushbu Oli, a leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, said, “When those elephants took off from Bhairahawa, it was not just the journey of elephants. It was the journey of failed leadership, missed opportunities, and hollow nationalism. The question is serious. Are we behind because we are poor, or has bad leadership made us poor?”

Some social media users have also viewed the move positively. One user said it would benefit Nepalis living in Qatar and local residents, adding, “Qatar can arrange air-conditioned habitats and fresh food for the elephants. This will raise Nepal’s international profile and strengthen relations between the two countries.”

Others hope the elephants will be kept with royal honor and proper facilities and receive better care in Qatar than in Chitwan. They argue that gifting the elephants on the eve of Qatar’s National Day will increase respect for Nepalis among the Qatari people.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Parks have said the elephants were sent only after meeting all international standards. Nepal has previously gifted animals such as rhinos, tigers, and red pandas.

The current government has fulfilled a commitment made by then President Bidya Devi Bhandari in 2075 BS. Still, one concern remains in the public mind: are Khagendra Prasad and Rudrakali now standing on desert sands, missing the greenery of their homeland? Gifts may build relationships, but can any gift outweigh the freedom and natural rights of the living being given? The answer will ultimately be reflected in the future condition of these two elephants.

AI video scandal
A wave of AI-generated and exaggerated videos related to the elephants sent to Qatar has also emerged on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Some users are sharing fabricated videos showing elephants shedding human-like tears, collapsing on desert sand, and other highly emotional scenes.

These videos carry sensational titles such as “Our elephants left Nepal crying” and “Elephants in the desert.” Such content has confused many users, with some reacting emotionally after assuming the fake visuals are real. These videos and images have garnered millions of views, likes, and thousands of shares. As a result, misleading emotions have spread more widely online than verified facts.

 

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