Mother elephant welcomes twin calves in Shimba Hills National Reserve

The new year has brought exciting news for wildlife enthusiasts in Kenya. On January 2, the Kenya Wildlife Service announced on its social media that a mother elephant with twin calves was spotted in Shimba Hills National Reserve. This marks the third occurrence of twin elephant births in the country over the past three years.

Twin births among elephants are extremely rare, happening in less than 1% of elephant births. Several biological and ecological factors contribute to the rarity of this phenomenon. Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal, lasting between 18 and 22 months, which makes carrying two calves at once incredibly taxing on the mother. Environmental conditions can also influence the likelihood of twin births.

Despite these challenges, the twin calves are now starting their journey in 2025, marking a hopeful beginning for both the mother and her young.

  • Muthomi Ireri

    Manager, Planet GIM

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