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Smithsonian’s National Zoo in DC welcomes newborn Asian elephant
The newborn female calf weighed 308 pounds and will bond behind the scenes for a month to support development and conservation of endangered Asian elephants.
- On Feb. 2, 2026, the Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed a female Asian elephant calf at 1:15 a.m., its first in nearly 25 years, born to 12-year-old Nhi Linh and 44-year-old Spike.
- Paired under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan in April 2024, the pair bred with an approximately 21-month pregnancy and fewer than 52,000 Asian elephants remaining.
- Weighing 308 pounds at birth, the newborn female calf measured 38.5 inches and zoo veterinarians and animal care staff found her healthy and walking within hours.
- The zoo launched a public naming vote through Feb. 13 where the public can donate a minimum of $5 on the zoo's website to vote for four Vietnamese-inspired names, with all funds supporting Asian elephant care.
- Conservationists note research here can directly aid wild Asian elephants, as the calf's genes are underrepresented in North American zoo populations, supporting global efforts.
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The National Zoo celebrates the arrival of a very special new member: an Asian elephant calf born on Monday, February 2 at 1:15 a.m. Its arrival marks the first birth of an Asian elephant in more than two decades at the zoo, and represents a milestone for the conservation of this endangered species.The mother, Nhi Linh, 12 years old, had her first child with the father, Spike, 44 years old.The calf weighed 308 pounds and began to walk on its own…
See the first baby elephant born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in nearly 25 years
A female Asian elephant calf has been born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, DC, the first in almost a quarter of a century.
·Atlanta, United States
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Leaning Left10Leaning Right3Center20Last UpdatedBias Distribution61% Center
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C 61%
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