The mother elephant, named Mali, gave birth on October 24, but Rosamond Gifford Zoo recently announced this birth.
The reason they announced it late is because elephants are animals that very rarely give birth to twins. They usually only give birth to one baby at a time. In the case of twins, the survival rate is only 1%. Most baby elephants die because they are too weak, as do mother elephants.
According to CNN, the first elephant was born at 2 a.m., weighing 99kg. Ten hours later, to everyone’s surprise, Mali gave birth to a second elephant, weighing more than 100kg but weaker than the first elephant.
Mali’s mother elephant’s twins are also quite weak, especially the second-born elephant. But thanks to the attention of the zoo’s veterinary staff, their condition has improved and is normal and healthy.
Zoo staff did not predict the birth of twins because of their rarity and the complexity of elephant ultrasound. But they still had time to prepare a specialized milk substitute to supplement the second elephant’s diet.
This is truly a historic moment for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and all animal lovers.
Scientists are studying the pregnancy and birth of Mali’s mother elephant because it will have a significant impact on elephants worldwide, contributing to the protection of this endangered species.
In addition, the zoo also hopes that research on the birth of twins will contribute to efforts to eliminate the cause of baby elephant deaths at birth.
Before that, Mali was also pregnant and gave birth, but the baby elephant died from the intrathecal herpes virus. This is the leading cause of death in young elephants. Currently, Mali’s placenta has been sent to Baylor University (Texas) for research in the hope of developing a vaccine and treatment for this disease. The twins will continue to be closely monitored and cared for.