Historic Moment: Rare Elephant Twins Born at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Excitement is in the air at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, as the zoo welcomes two extraordinary new members to its elephant herd—twin Asian elephant calves born to proud parents Mali and Doc.
In a press release, the zoo shared the stunning news: on October 24, Mali gave birth to not one, but two baby elephants—an exceptionally rare event, with twin births occurring in less than 1% of elephant pregnancies and an even lower survival rate.
The first calf, weighing 220 pounds, was born around 2 a.m. But in a remarkable twist, a second male calf arrived 10 hours later, tipping the scales at 237 pounds. Although the second calf appeared weaker, the zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams acted swiftly, providing a specialized milk formula to support its health.
This marks a historic milestone—the first successful birth of elephant twins in the United States.
County Executive Ryan J. McMahon praised the dedication of the zoo’s staff, saying their tireless efforts ensured both calves and their mother received the highest standard of care during such a rare and delicate birth.
The twin calves are part of the endangered Asian elephant species, native to South and Southeast Asia. These majestic animals face mounting threats in the wild, including habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans. The World Wildlife Fund reports that adult males can reach up to 11,000 pounds and grow as tall as 11 feet—an impressive future for these tiny newborns.
Beyond the excitement, the twins’ arrival has renewed focus on a serious issue—elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a deadly disease that previously claimed the lives of Mali and Doc’s earlier offspring. To support ongoing research, Mali’s placentas have been sent to Baylor University in hopes of advancing a vaccine and treatment.
Watch the video below:
The zoo’s animal health team continues to monitor the twins closely for early signs of EEHV, ensuring every precaution is taken to safeguard their development.
With the arrival of these miracle calves, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s elephant herd has grown to eight. Guests are invited to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event and visit the expanded family at the zoo’s Helga Beck Asian Elephant Preserve—a living testament to hope, science, and conservation in action.