Howletts staff hail success of elephant mother and calf

Charlotte Jones, of Howletts animal park, said mother and surviving calf were "doing fine"

Keepers at a Kent wild animal park have said it is a "great success" an elephant has survived after giving birth to twins.

Staff at Howletts, near Canterbury, said the birth of twins in the wild would often result in the death of both mother and calves.

The African elephant, called Masa, gave birth last week to an as-yet-unnamed male following a 22-month pregnancy.

However, his twin did not survive.

Charlotte Jones, of Howletts, said: "Twin elephants are incredibly rare, estimated to occur in less than 2% of cases.

"For both mother and one of the calves to have survived is a great success.

"The mother is doing fine and didn't have any complications. It could have been a lot more distressing for her.

"The calf is doing well also."