In an extraordinary event at Myanmar’s Wingabaw timber camp, rare twin elephants were born last week. The new arrivals, a female named Pearl Sint and her brother Kyaw Pearl, have quickly adapted to their surroundings after a challenging start. The birth of these twins has brought the total population of the camp to nine.
Pearl Sint was born a few minutes before Kyaw Pearl at the 60-acre Wingabaw elephant camp in Bago, operated by the state-run Myanmar Timber Enterprise. At about two feet six inches tall, the twins were smaller than average, which initially posed feeding challenges.
The camp’s assistant manager, Myo Min Aung, explained that the twins were too short to reach their mother’s teat. To assist, the camp staff placed small wooden blocks under their front legs, allowing them to feed from their mother, Pearl Sandar. By the third day, the twins were feeding independently and exhibiting their unique personalities.
Kyaw Pearl, the male twin, is notably adventurous, often wandering around and engaging with humans rather than staying close to his mother. In contrast, his sister, Pearl Sint, is feeding more regularly.
Concerns have been raised about the twins possibly inheriting traits from their father, Aye Htike, known for his aggressive behavior towards other elephants and people. However, Pearl Sandar, the twins’ mother, is described as having a kind nature, which the staff hopes will influence the twins positively.
The Wingabaw camp, once home to around 3,000 elephants used for logging, now serves as a tourist attraction. The camp’s elephants, including the newborn twins, carry tourists instead of logs.
According to 2018 figures from WWF, fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild, with fewer than 2,000 in Myanmar. This makes the birth of the twins even more significant for conservation efforts.
Myo Min Aung shared his excitement, stating, “This is my first time personally experiencing an elephant twin birth. While it’s a tremendous responsibility, I’m delighted to care for these precious animals.”