The Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor was set up by the national park in the 1980s to breed elephants for anti-poaching patrols, since buying them from India had become difficult. Calves are born here, and you may see young elephants with their mothers in the stalls, along with the mahouts who care for them. A small display explains the elephants' role in the park and the history of elephant-keeping in the Terai.
Visiting raises welfare questions that we think travellers should hear. Elephants here are often chained at the stall overnight, training methods for young elephants have been criticised by animal-welfare groups, and riding puts strain on an elephant's back. Conditions have improved in recent years, with more corral space and time to graze, but standards are still debated. We think it is better to see the centre with that context than to avoid the subject.
That is also why we do not book elephant-back safaris or elephant bathing, both still offered by some Sauraha lodges. Jeep, canoe and walking safaris show the park well. The centre is a 45-minute walk or 15-minute cycle from Sauraha, often combined with the canoe ride and the walk back. Entry is a small fee; check current status before you travel.
Good for
- Families
- First-timers
- Photographers
Questions travellers ask
Is visiting the Elephant Breeding Centre in Chitwan ethical?
It is a fair question. The centre breeds elephants for park patrols, and welfare groups have raised concerns about chaining and training. Conditions have improved but are still debated. We take guests who want to learn, explain the issues openly, and do not support riding or bathing elephants, which we think cause more harm.
Can I ride an elephant in Chitwan with your company?
No. We do not sell elephant rides, elephant safaris or elephant bathing. A jeep safari reaches the same grasslands and gives better odds of tiger, and canoes and walks cover the rest. If an elephant ride matters to you, we will still tell you about the welfare concerns honestly.
How do I get to the Elephant Breeding Centre from Sauraha?
It is about 3 km west of Sauraha. Most visitors walk back to it after the morning canoe ride, a 1–2 hour guided walk through forest, or cycle there in about 15 minutes along the village track. A jeep transfer is also possible. Allow 45 minutes at the centre.
