Elephant's 'Excellent Mothering Skills' Help Rare Twins Defy the Odds to Survive (Kenya)

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Sun, May 8, 2022 5:55 PM

Elephant's 'Excellent Mothering Skills' Help Rare Twins Defy the Odds to
Survive (Kenya)
Hilary Hanson, Huffington Post
May 7, 2022

See link
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elephant-twins-survival-kenya_n_62768e35e4b00fbab62f0166
for photo.

A pair of elephant twins experts weren’t sure would survive are alive and
well thanks to the dedication and skill of their mother.

The twins, one male and one female, were born in January to a mother named
Bora at Samburu National Reserve in Kenya.

At the time, the nonprofit Save the Elephants ― which has researchers
working in the park and also collaborates with local guides to monitor the
animals ― expressed cautious hope about the twins’ future.

Twins are rare among elephants and their survival can be dicey. Famed
biologist and broadcaster David Attenborough previously called the task of
raising elephant twins “almost impossible” because calves “need so much
milk and care.”

But more than four months later, Bora’s babies are “tiny but still doing
well,” Save the Elephants spokesperson Jane Wynyard told HuffPost in an
email.

“Miraculously Bora has managed to keep her babies alive against all odds
and through a fierce drought,” she said. “It’s still early days for the
twins and they will rely on their mother’s milk until they’re over 2 years
old. However, their survival so far is testament to Bora’s excellent
mothering skills and the resilience of elephants.”

The twins were spotted late last month and can be seen with Bora and the
herd in a video on the nonprofit’s Facebook page.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elephant-twins-survival-kenya_n_62768e35e4b00fbab62f0166

Elephant's 'Excellent Mothering Skills' Help Rare Twins Defy the Odds to Survive (Kenya) Hilary Hanson, Huffington Post May 7, 2022 See link <https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elephant-twins-survival-kenya_n_62768e35e4b00fbab62f0166> for photo. A pair of elephant twins experts weren’t sure would survive are alive and well thanks to the dedication and skill of their mother. The twins, one male and one female, were born in January to a mother named Bora at Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. At the time, the nonprofit Save the Elephants ― which has researchers working in the park and also collaborates with local guides to monitor the animals ― expressed cautious hope about the twins’ future. Twins are rare among elephants and their survival can be dicey. Famed biologist and broadcaster David Attenborough previously called the task of raising elephant twins “almost impossible” because calves “need so much milk and care.” But more than four months later, Bora’s babies are “tiny but still doing well,” Save the Elephants spokesperson Jane Wynyard told HuffPost in an email. “Miraculously Bora has managed to keep her babies alive against all odds and through a fierce drought,” she said. “It’s still early days for the twins and they will rely on their mother’s milk until they’re over 2 years old. However, their survival so far is testament to Bora’s excellent mothering skills and the resilience of elephants.” The twins were spotted late last month and can be seen with Bora and the herd in a video on the nonprofit’s Facebook page. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elephant-twins-survival-kenya_n_62768e35e4b00fbab62f0166