INTERNATIONAL: For the first time in nearly 80 years in Sri Lanka, an elephant has given birth to twins. The calves were born on Tuesday in a wildlife reserve.
The twin males are the mother’s second and third offspring. She gave birth to her first male calf in 2009. The twins were born at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in the central hills of Sri Lanka. One of the country’s biggest tourist attractions, it was set up in 1975 to care for wild elephants that needed to be rescued and treated for various injuries.
Experts say the last time an elephant in Sri Lanka gave birth to twins was back in 1941. The 25-year-old mother, 17-year-old-father and 36-hour old calves are all said to be doing just fine.
