Video: Twin elephants born in Sri Lanka in rare occurrence

The twins were born to 25-year-old Surangi at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Last updated: September 03, 2021 | 17:03

1 MIN READ

25-year-old elephant Surangi with her twin calves born on August 31, 2021 nearly five hours apart, making the first such birth at the facility set up in 1975 to care for destitute elephants, in Pinnawala.

AFP

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Colombo: An elephant in Sri Lanka gave birth to twins on Tuesday for the first time in nearly 80 years, wildlife authorities said.

The twins, both males, were born to 25-year-old Surangi at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in the central hills of the country, an orphanage spokesperson said. Their father, 17-year-old Pandu, is also an orphanage resident.

Video footage from local Hiru TV media showed the grey calves on their feet and eating leaves around their mother's legs.

Sri Lankan elephant experts said twins were last born to a domesticated elephant in the country in 1941.

One of Sri Lanka's biggest tourist attractions, Pinnawala was set up in 1975 to care for wild elephants that needed to be rescued or treated for injuries.

There are around 7,500 wild elephants in Sri Lanka, which has a population of 22 million people.

The twin elephants born on August 31, 2021 nearly five hours apart, in Pinnawala.

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