EleTwin Elephant Family Fund

Our mission embraces the importance of connecting people to animals and the natural world and the protection of vulnerable species from extinction. We live this mission every day.

And, the zoo is also a place where magical things can happen!

When Asian elephant Mali went into labor on October 24, the elephant care team was beyond prepared. After a 22-month gestation period, everyone was highly anticipating the delivery. What they didn’t anticipate, however, was that ten hours after Mali delivered her calf – she would deliver a second! The elephant care team sprung into action to quickly give medical care to keep him alive.

Elephant twins are rare an make up less than 1% of all elephant births and on October 24, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo made history! 

The twins, Yaad and Tukada, are now thriving and growing stronger every day.

The Rosamond Gifford zoo is also one of only eight accredited zoos entrusted to breed Asian elephants and contribute to important scientific research toward the treatment and development of a vaccine to combat Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV), a lethal strain of herpes believed to naturally occur among elephants in a dormant form.

Your contributions, of any amount, will help us provide habitat improvements, enrichment items, and the very best of care for our amazing miracle twins and their elephant herd family!

Read the full story of Mail and the “miracle twins” here.