According to Rameshwor Chaudhary, Chief of Elephants Breeding Center at Chitwan National Park (CNP), Dhrube had been sexually deprieved for a long time, which explains the reason behind his agreesive behavior. [break]
“If Dhrube is allowed to cohabit with female elephants, he will not harm anybody,” said Chaudhary. “Dhrube became violent simply because he did not get to live with female elephants.” Chaudhary, who is well-acquainted with Dhrube´s life for many years now, believes that the mad tusker, whom CNP officials now want dead, can live a normal life once again if he is allowed to live among female elephants.
Romio and Ronaldo
Two wild elephants, Romio and Ronaldo, who were allowed to mate with domestic female tuskers inside the breeding center, have collectively played a key role in shaping Dhrube´s life.
Almost two decades ago, when Dhrube appeared in Sauraha of Chitwan, Romio ruled the roost in the breeding center. Romio was lucky enough to simultaneously mate with many female elephants. In 14 years that he spent in the breeding center, Romio fathered 23 baby elephants.
Today, most of elephants used by CNP for security are Romio´s children. When Romio was the uncrowned king of the breeding center, Ronaldo was too young to challenge him. Ronaldo used to flirt with female elephants only when Romio was not around.
Nearly five years ago, Romio was electrocuted to death after getting entangled in an electric fence. Romio´s demise paved the way for Ronaldo and he mated with many female tuskers at once, like Romio did earlier. Ronaldo has fathered 22 baby elephants till now.
However, Dhrube was not as lucky. Romio and Ronaldo never allowed Dhrube to court female elephants inside the breeding center. “Dhrube fought Romio and Ronaldo several times,” says Chaudhary. “But, Dhrube never succeeded in defeating Romio and Ronaldo.”
Dhrube killed Dhirendrajung, a domestic elephant, in an act of cementing his foothold in the breeding center. He also injured another male elephant there. But, he was never able to conquer the breeding center. After being defeated by Romio and Ronaldo, Dhrube tried to make love with a female elephant kept near Dhruba Post of Nepal Army (NA). But, NA personnel always chased away Dhrube, which made him further violent.
“Had he been allowed to mate with female elephants, he would not have turned so violent,” says Jhamak Karki, a CNP warden. “As s almost all his efforts to get close to female elephants failed, he gradually turned more and more aggressive,” says Karki.
As long as he was inside CNP, Dhrube had to suppress all his anger. This was because Dhrube was scared of the gun-toting NA men. He occasionally unleashed his anger only at other elephants. But, when he reached Madi area, Dhrube encountered common people. By this time, Dhrube had gone mad.
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