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Asian Elephant Calf Makes Public Debut at Smithsonian National Zoo
A 2-month-old Asian elephant calf named Linh Mai made her public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on Earth Day. Born on February 2, 2026, she is the first calf at the zoo in nearly 25 years. Zoo officials hope her presence will raise awareness about conservation efforts for endangered Asian elephants.
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The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., introduced its first Asian elephant calf in nearly 25 years to the public on April 22, 2026, coinciding with Earth Day. The calf, named Linh Mai, which means "spirit blossom" in Vietnamese, was born on February 2, 2026, to mother Nhi Linh and father Spike.
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At birth, Linh Mai weighed 308 pounds and has since grown to nearly 500 pounds, gaining an average of about 3 pounds per day, according to zoo staff.
Robbie Clark, an elephant manager at the National Zoo, described Linh Mai as sassy with a bit of attitude. Clark stated that the calf enjoys bathtime, which supports her development and provides enrichment to keep her active and engaged. Linh Mai has been bonding with her mother and other members of the herd, as observed by zoo handlers.
The National Zoo aims to use Linh Mai's popularity to highlight conservation efforts for Asian elephants, an endangered species.
“We hope that when people come here to the zoo and see her, they fall in love and have an interest to learn and understand more about the plight that Asian elephants face in the wild and turn that into action," Clark said. Visitors can view Linh Mai at the zoo, where admission is free, though reservations are recommended 30 days in advance due to high interest. The zoo also provides an Elephant Cam livestream featuring appearances by Linh Mai.”
