Bath time for the elephants in Chitwan

Nepal’s Chitwan national park is home to an elephant breeding center which takes tourists on safari rides through the jungle. This year, the breeding center hosted only the second ever pair of baby elephant twins successfully born in captivity, to a wild elephant father called Romeo. There’s nothing better that the hard-working elephants love after a morning of traipsing through the bush than a good bath – and the tourists are welcome to join in.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Elephants carry out a variety of work in Chitwan, including carrying the army’s anti-poaching patrols, but most carry tourists on safari trips.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Having your face decorated is not unusual in Nepal, even if you are an elephant.

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© RIA Novosti

The elephant’s trainer, known as a mahout, will work with the animal throughout its life. The elephant responds to its mahout’s shouts.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Elephants are intelligent enough to pass on tips of rupees to their handlers. Bananas, however, get eaten.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

With a shout from the mahout, the elephant sucks up water and gives a tourist a swift shower from the Rapti river.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Elephant bathing is the highlight of every visitor’s trip to Chitwan.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

The Rapti river is the northern border of Chitwan national park.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Another bath time over, and it’s time to go for lunch.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

An elephant trip is the best way to spot wild animals in the jungle, including rhinos, tigers, deer, monkeys, wild boar, and over five hundred species of birds.

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© RIA Novosti . Howard Gethin

Keepers in the breeding center prepare “elephant biscuits” made from grasses, rice and molasses. An elephant will eat around 25 in a day.