Ronaldo was a famous wild bull elephant who roamed Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Best known around the Sauraha and Khorsor regions, he played a massive role in the area’s elephant population as one of the most successful wild breeding partners for the local Elephant Breeding and Training Centre. He died at around 53 years old and was discovered near Bishazari lake area in the park’s buffer zone on the morning of Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Ronaldo first showed up around Sauraha about 24 years ago. Over time, he became a well-known, almost legendary fixture to park rangers, locals, and visiting tourists. He earned his name from the iconic Brazilian soccer star because of his impressive size, speed, and feisty nature. Life in the wild left its mark on him—he carried numerous battle scars from fights with other male elephants and even lost his tail in one clash—but he held onto his status as a dominant power in the park.

His body was found near the Bishazari lake security post. A post-mortem exam discovered an electric cable inside his mouth, pointing to electrocution as the probable cause of death. Park officials immediately opened an investigation, noting that the power wire was connected to a nearby Nepal Army post. After the autopsy was completed, Ronaldo was given a traditional funeral ceremony and cremated, bringing a sad close to the life of one of Chitwan’s most beloved wild giants.

Read more: Ronaldo, Chitwan’s famed wild elephant, found dead

Read more: 53-year-old elephant Ronaldo cremated according to religious rites « Khabarhub