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Twin Elephants in Thailand, The World's First
The birth in Thailand of the first twin elephants in the world revives hopes for a species that suffers the consequences of domestication and tourism.
A 35 year old elephant gave birth to two males with three hours between each birth, and the pups remain under observation for the low survival rate.
According to official reports, touristic shows exploit ten percent of the national population of elephants, affected by premature separation from their mothers for such entertainment.
Elephants are an important symbol in Southeast Asia, where the tamed amount far exceeds the wild, due to indiscriminate hunting.
In countries like neighboring Laos, once called the Land of Million Elephants, festivals are still celebrated to honor the elephants, but every year the number of animals decreases.
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