AYUTTHAYA — In an extraordinary cultural celebration, male and female elephant twins participated in a traditional Thai wedding ceremony at Peniat Royal Elephant Village in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province on November 7.
The ceremony, known as “Kachasan Sayomphon,” united Plai Supphalak Sophon (male) and Pang Sakonlak Sophit (female) in accordance with ancient Thai beliefs about mixed-gender twins that they were destined to be together in their past lives.
The elaborate ceremony, attended by politicians and business leaders, featured a traditional procession of 99 couples bearing wedding offerings. The dowry, totaling 4,444,499 baht (approximately $125,000), will be allocated to a fund for the twins’ future care.
The ceremony was presided over by Songrak Sermudomchai, a member of parliament from Nakhon Sawan province, along with business leaders Thanyasak and Chattheeraya Kittirattanapaisan, who served as ceremonial sponsors. The procession passed through symbolic silver and gold arches before culminating in merit-making ceremonies and Buddhist blessings.
The twin elephants were born on June 7, 2024, to their 30-year-old mother, Chamchuri, marking a rare occurrence in elephant breeding history.
The male calf emerged first at 9:00 p.m., displaying remarkable strength by standing within minutes of birth. His sister followed 18 minutes later, though the birth was complicated by the mother’s agitated state, resulting in injury to one mahout who attempted to protect the newborn.
Laithongrearn Meephan, owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, noted the historical significance of the births. “This is the first recorded case of male-female elephant twins in Thailand,” he said emotionally. “Previous records only showed same-sex twins.”
The twins were born to father Plai Siam and mother Pang Chamchuri, who has now given birth five times over 27 years.
________
