BANGKOK, Thailand: In a rare event, a 36-year-old Asian elephant named Jamjuree gave birth to twins at Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, located north of Bangkok.
The dramatic birth took place on Friday night, resulting in an 80-kilogramme male calf and, 18 minutes later, a 60-kilogramme female calf. The birth of twin elephants is extremely rare, occurring in only about one percent of elephant births.
The mother, Jamjuree, initially attacked the female calf, likely due to her inexperience with twins. Veterinarian Lardthongtare Meepan and a mahout intervened, with the mahout sustaining an ankle injury in the process. Thanks to their quick actions, the newborn was saved from further harm.
Michelle Reedy, the director of the Elephant Stay organisation at the Royal Kraal, explained that the mother’s aggressive behavior stemmed from the unusual nature of twin births. Fortunately, Jamjuree has since accepted both calves. Due to their small size, a special platform has been constructed to help them reach their mother to suckle, and they are also being given supplemental milk via syringe.
The birth of these twin elephants highlights the challenges and conservation efforts surrounding Asian elephants. With only about 8,000-11,000 remaining in the wild, these animals face threats from deforestation, human encroachment, and poaching. The Royal Kraal Centre, which houses 80 elephants, many rescued from street begging, argues that tourist activities like riding help the elephants socialize and exercise, promoting their conservation.
The father of the twin calves, a 29-year-old elephant named Siam, and the calves themselves will be named seven days after their birth, following Thai tradition.
