Extremely Rare Twin Elephants are Born in Kenya

For the first time since 2006, twin baby elephants have been born this week at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya.

The twin elephants, a male and female, were identified by four guides and they are so far the second set of twin calves to be spotted by, Save the Elephants a U.K. charity based in Kenya.

In a press release, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, the charity’s Founder explained why twin births are a rare feat for elephants.

“Twins form around only 1% of births. Quite often the mothers don’t have enough milk to support two calves,” Douglas-Hamilton said.

He added that the first twin calves seen by the charity died shortly after birth but this time the charity will do everything it can to keep the twins safe.

“Sadly both calves died shortly after birth,” Douglas-Hamilton continued. “The next few days will be touch and go for the new twins but we all have our fingers crossed for their survival.”

The latest twins are the second birth of Bora, their mother who last had a child in 2017.

Elephants have a gestation period of 22 months. This is the longest gestation period for mammals and it explains why elephants averagely give birth once in four years.

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