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WHAT WE DO

Elephant Welfare

Nepal is home to roughly 230 elephants in the wild and around 180 in captivity, cared for by a mix of government and private owners. The welfare of these captive elephants is a shared responsibility — and sometimes a point of tension — among the communities, owners, and mahouts who shape their care, health, and role in tourism.
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RTT champions the physical, emotional, and social well-being of captive elephants in Nepal, driving education, scientific progress, and community involvement to end their plight. At the heart of this work are Tiger Tops’ 13 resident elephants, whose care has long shaped RTT’s approach to housing, veterinary support, and welfare management. Since 2025, RTT has built on this foundation through a partnership with Stand Up 4 Elephants, a Belgian organisation led by biologists and conservationists, extending the same standards of care to two further elephants under the partnership’s direct oversight. Through chain-free enclosures, low-impact activities, scientific monitoring, and public education, RTT continues to set a new benchmark for ethical elephant care in Nepal.

Elephant Welfare
Initiatives

Building Spacious Enclosures

Our 13 elephants live in spacious, green enclosures in small social groups—free to roam, play, dust, scratch, and explore. This natural setting boosts their well-being while offering guests a truly authentic, enriching wildlife experience

Veterinary Care

Elephant health is a cornerstone of our work. Regular consultations with local veterinarians ensure balanced diets and preventive care. RTT funds frequent veterinary and foot care not only for our herd but also for elephants owned by neighboring communities.
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Daily Activities and Cultural Exchange

RTT promotes low-impact elephant experiences that prioritize welfare, education, and conservation. Visitors can observe elephants in their daily routines, join guided walks alongside elephants through the buffer zones and outskirts of Chitwan National Park, and learn about their care, behaviour, and ecological importance. These experiences also provide opportunities to engage with Nepal’s mahout communities, fostering cultural exchange while respecting the elephants’ natural behaviours and well-being.

Research and Knowledge Sharing

We regularly host researchers and welcome partnerships with the scientific community to deepen knowledge and improve practices. By collaborating with experts, we aim to set new standards for responsible elephant care in Nepal and beyond. For research inquiries or collaboration opportunities.

Elephant Profiles

Kailash Prasad

Kailash Prasad

Kailash is the herd’s youngest elephant. He is a curious youngster always reaching out with his trunk eager to greet people.

ChanChan Kali

ChanChan Kali

She is popular among her herd however you can always find ChanChan around Champa Kali. Chanchan is fiercely protective of her. ChanChan becomes extremely upset if they are separated even for a brief moment. She has a very distinct round face and appears very chubby.

Champa Kali

Champa Kali

She is one of the eldest elephants. She eats her Kuchi slowly because she has few molars left due to her age. One thing about Champa is that she is extremely impatient as evidenced by her constant waving of her trunk at people moving past her corral to request more food.

Raj Kali

Raj Kali

Raj is dubbed as the “Queen of Kuchhi”. She has a bit of an independent spirit however and is intelligent and keen, and uses her sense of smell to select the largest kuchhi parcel for herself first. She is quite active and lively inside the corrals, where she loves scratching against the trees and dusting.

Ram Kali

Ram Kali

Apart from being the tallest elephant, Ram is extremely intelligent and is eager to please everyone. Researchers at Tiger Tops adore her as she is simple to train and extremely responsive. However, Ram isn’t the friendliest in the herd as she likes throwing and waving branches around however, she is friendly to her mahouts. She sometimes gets spooked by Rhino callings in the wild.

Hira Kali

Hira Kali

The first thing you notice about Hira Kali is that she is the herd’s largest and the most dominant elephant. She loves interacting with people and other elephants. In 2006, she gave birth to Sandra Kali and now is a grandmother of Kailash Prasad. She is not a picky eater and is always hungry looking for food. Her big stature can be attributed to it!

Gulab Kali

Gulab Kali

She is the lovable grandma of the group. The oldest and also the sweetest, she is gentle with kids, humans and gets along with all of the elephant in the herd. She is very curious and likes to occasionally wander around.

Saraswati Kali

Saraswati Kali

She is one of the most mischievous members in the herd. She is named after the Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom and art. She is usually in a good mood and is often tactile and curious. She is a picky eater as she never eats the straw of her Kuchi parcels but only the rice in middle. She is fond of Sandra Kali and is also very good friends with Gulab Kali.

SPONSOR AN ELEPHANT

Sponsor an Elephant and Support Our Elephant Welfare programmes

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