Welcoming new animal births is always heartwarming, but it’s even more special when it involves twins.
In a rare occurrence, a female and a male elephant were born as twins in a wildlife reserve in Kenya earlier this month, a remarkable event considering the rarity of twin elephant births.
According to a press release by Save the Elephants, these twins were spotted on January 16th at the Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya when they were just a day old.
Their mother, Bora, is under the observation of the charity and has previously given birth to another calf in 2017.
Twin elephant births are exceptionally rare, with the last occurrence in the park dating back to 2006.
Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, the founder of Save the Elephants, mentioned in the press release, “Twins are rarely encountered in elephant populations and represent only 1% of births.”
However, the birth of twins in elephants can be challenging as they often struggle to survive. Unfortunately, twin elephant calves born in the park 16 years ago both passed away shortly after birth. Therefore, the survival of the newborn twins remains uncertain.
Dr. Douglas-Hamilton explained, “Mothers often do not have enough milk to care for two calves. The upcoming days will be critical for the new twins, but we remain hopeful for their survival.”
Despite the challenges, there is cautious optimism about the twins’ survival, considering their mother’s prior experience in raising a calf and the recent rainfall in Samburu that has resulted in favorable vegetation for the twins.
“The survival of the twins is largely dependent on the quality of the grass, vegetation, and the mother’s experience,” said Dr. Douglas-Hamilton. “With the recent rainfall in Samburu, the grass is green, giving the little twins a greater chance of survival. We are cautiously optimistic about their future.”
These rare baby elephants are not only adorable but also a symbol of hope. Let’s hope they thrive under the care of their mother and defy the odds stacked against them.
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