In what caregivers have described as a wonder, an Asiatic elephant in northern Thailand gave birth to a unique pair of twins.
The family, 36- year- ancient Chamchuri, was never expected to deliver twins and when she gave birth to a female calf next Friday, staff at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, had thought the delivery was done.
However, they heard a loud thud as they helped to clean up the second leg and get it to stand on its ft. They realized Chamchuri had given birth to a female leg.
Caretakers had to control the mother to stop her from touching the female calf because of the following birth. In the fight, one caretaker suffered injuries.
A group of caregivers, known locally as animals, desperately separating the feminine leg from the mother, with heart still visible on her hind limbs, was captured in extraordinary footage on social media.
Twins occur in just one percent of rhinoceros births and female- sexual are even more unique, according to Save the Elephants, a research company.
” Once we pulled the second baby elephant out, away from the mother, the baby stood up. We were all ecstatic because it’s a miracle, said veterinarian Lardthongtare Meepan to the BBC.
Ms. Meepan, who is herself a mother of twins, said,” We’ve always wanted to see elephant twins, but not everyone can because it does n’t happen a lot.”
Charin Somwang, a 31- year- old mahout, broke his leg while restraining the mother.
” I was so happy, I could n’t feel the pain”, he told the BBC, adding he felt the extent of the injuries only when he was brought to the hospital.
” The new mother will always try to kick or push the baby, which is normal.” Mr. Somwang, who has worked in the park for 15 years, put his own face forward and attempted to block the mother from the smaller elephant because she was afraid she might break it.
Elephants are considered sacred in Thailand, where a majority of the population is Buddhist. They are also a national symbol.
The twins have been featured in live social media streams at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal since their birth.
Park visitors, including children, are also allowed to see the twins, but only after disinfecting their footwear and their hands.
A sign near the nursery reads:” Please do n’t touch the elephant babies”.
They will be given their names seven days after giving birth, per Thai custom.
The female calf, who weighs 55 kg ( 121 lb ), is slightly smaller than usual and must squat on a stool when she is feeding her mother. At 60 kg, her brother weighs in.
The park claims that the elephants were saved from street begging. In 1989, Thailand banned logging in natural forests, leaving mahouts who worked in that industry jobless.
In exchange for money, they were forced to hire elephants to perform tricks on tourists. Although there are still a few instances of this happening, this practice was outlawed in 2010.
In Ayutthaya, Thailand’s former capital, some elephants carry tourists on their backs to temples and historic ruins.
Conservationists object to elephant riding because they claim it causes stress and amounts to abuse.
According to a previous report from the World Animal Protection ( WAP ), harsh tactics are employed to accomodate a wild elephant with a human on its back. The procedure begins right away after it is captured. It is often referred to as “breaking- in” or” crush”.
Elephants have also gained popularity as tourist attractions in northern Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, where visitors can take bananas, walk with them, and soak them in mud.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Asian elephant is an endangered species because of poaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss.
More elephants are used for tourism in Thailand- over 3, 000- than anywhere else. Compared to other nations with captive populations, Thailand’s are almost entirely privately held.
Compared to their African counterparts, Asian elephants have smaller ears round and hunched backs.
Meanwhile, visitors continue to flock to the park in Ayutthaya to see the twin babies, as they await their names.
As they roll their trunks on their mother’s leg, they move their trunks in a small pen that is hay-covered.
” I am always happy when I see elephant gives birth”, said Mr Somwang, their mahout who is recovering from injury.
” It does n’t need to be twins. Elephant babies always bring joy”, he said.
