The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York is celebrating a historic moment with the birth of male Asian elephant twins, born on October 24th, 2022. This rare event is a triumph for both the zoo and the conservation of Asian elephants worldwide. With the birth of these twins, the zoo’s elephant herd has now increased to eight elephants, residing in the Helga Beck Asian Elephant Preserve.
The birth of these twins is a rare phenomenon as twin elephants are only born in less than 1% of elephant births globally. This makes the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s achievement all the more remarkable, especially since the few successful twin births have only taken place in Asia and Africa. The zoo’s animal care team and veterinary staff have been monitoring the twins around the clock and both are currently doing well.
The birth of these twins is a part of the zoo’s participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, a gold-standard population management and conservation program. The placentas of the new twins were immediately transported to Baylor University for elephant research and will be studied towards the treatment and development of a vaccine to combat the Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV), a lethal strain of herpes that is the leading cause of death among young elephants.
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has been a leader in elephant husbandry and conservation since 1986, and with its state-of-the-art facilities and experienced elephant care team, the zoo is now making a significant contribution to global research efforts in elephant care and EEHV. The testing and research done at the zoo’s Animal Health Center will help in the efforts to someday eradicate EEHV and aid elephants both in human care and in the wild.
In conclusion, the birth of these male Asian elephant twins is an incredible achievement for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and for Asian elephant conservation worldwide. This historic event is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the zoo’s exceptional animal care team, veterinary staff, and the support of the community. Congratulations to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on this incredible milestone!
