'Miracle of nature': Elephant twins' birth stuns conservationists in Thailand

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) – An Asian elephant surprised keepers and conservationists by giving birth to rare twins in Thailand, an event called a “miracle of nature.”

Elephantstay, a non-profit conservation group, announced Wednesday the remarkable birth of a rare set of elephant twins.

The proud mother, a 36-year-old Asian elephant named Jamjuree, surprised keepers at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Bangkok by giving birth on Friday to two calves.

The first calf, a male, made his entrance on Friday evening, followed by an unexpected female calf just 18 minutes later.

Elephantstay took to their social media accounts to share the news, describing the event as a "miracle of nature" and expressing both joy and astonishment at the rare occurrence.

The group reported that the delivery took a frantic turn when Jamjuree, seemingly overwhelmed by the unexpected double delivery, attacked her newborns.

One of the keepers who intervened to protect the calves suffered a fractured ankle in the process, it added.

Despite the initial challenges, the twins, weighing 80 (176 pounds) and 60 kilograms (132 pounds) respectively, are now under the dedicated care of the Elephantstay team.

The conservation group noted that the Royal Elephant Kraal Team is ensuring the calves receive "round-the-clock" attention, including "syringe feeding" as the female calf is too small to reach her mother's milk.

The birth of elephant twins is exceptionally rare, constituting only 1% of all elephant births, according to Save the Elephants, a research and conservation organization.

The fact that these "miracle twins" are of different genders makes their birth even more extraordinary.

These twins mark a significant addition to Thailand's endangered Asian elephant population, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect this majestic species.

Elephantstay expressed gratitude on Instagram for the "dedication of everyone" involved in ensuring the successful birth of the twins, calling it an "exciting time for Thailand and elephants."