BHOPAL: A 57-year-old elephant has given birth to a female calf at the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district, a forest official said on Monday.
The aged tusker, named Anarkali, who was brought to the Bandhavgarh National Park in 1978-79 from Sonepur cattle fair (in Bihar), has so far in its lifetime given birth to eight calves, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Alok Kumar said, adding that the latest one was born on Saturday.
The average life span of an elephant may vary from 40 to 65 years, as per experts.
“The newborn female calf is named Gayatri and it will surely be a centre of attraction for tourists in the coming days,” Kumar said in a statement.
Out of the eight calves born to Anarkali, four have survived and are healthy, he said.