Rare Elephant Twins Born in Kenya, a Captivating Moment Caught on Camera

Save the Elephants announced on Friday that a female elephant in Samburu National Reserve has recently given birth to twin calves.

In a remarkable occurrence, twin elephants have once again graced the reserve, marking the second instance in under two years. Alto, the proud mother elephant, hails from the esteemed Clouds family. Save the Elephants, filled with wonder and jubilation, shared their delight in the birth of these twins, particularly following the unfortunate loss of one of Bora's twin calves during last year's drought.

The organization, responsible for monitoring elephants in the reserve, made this exciting discovery through their researchers on the ground. Despite her exceptional mothering abilities, the female twin tragically perished during one of the most severe droughts, as stated by Save the Elephants. Typically, elephants only give birth to a single calf at a time, although there are occasional instances when twins are born.

The group has committed to maintaining a vigilant watch on the calves' welfare and progress. The African elephant's process of gestation spans 22 months whereas the one for Asian elephants varies between 18 and 22 months. This gestation period is the longest among all mammals. Researchers have found that elephants can live up to 70 years. However, a female elephant typically breeds a maximum of four to five times during her lifespan.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has labelled the African savanna elephant as endangered due to the detrimental impact of poaching and habitat destruction on elephant populations in Africa. The Kenya Wildlife Service reports that there are currently over 36,000 elephants in Kenya, with anti-poaching measures successfully preventing further decline. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Kenya was home to approximately 170,000 elephants, but this number plummeted to a mere 16,000 by the end of 1989 due to the high demand for ivory.