Wildlife staff in central India were left amazed after a 57-year-old elephant gave birth to a rare pair of female twins – the first such case ever documented at the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Anarkali, a veteran member of the reserve's patrolling squad, went into labour on November 21 and spent several hours delivering the calves, which arrived three hours apart in an extraordinary natural.

Rangers say both little elephants are in good health, while their mother is being closely monitored around the clock.

Footage from the reserve in Madhya Pradesh shows the proud matriarch with her two newborn girls.

Wildlife veterinarian Dr Sanjeev Kumar Gupta described the birth as "exceptionally rare", noting that elephant twins are almost never seen in the wild."

Officials confirmed that this is the first recorded twin birth in the reserve's history.

Anarkali herself has now given birth to six of the reserve's 21 elephants.

Field director Naresh Singh Yadav said a special care regime has been put in place, including nutrient-rich food for Anarkali and continuous supervision to ensure the calves feed properly and remain safe.

The magical moment has been hailed as a major boost for the reserve's elephant population – and a once-in-a-lifetime sight even for seasoned rangers.