First baby elephant born at the National Zoo in over two decades making public debut
Updated: 10:42 AM CDT Apr 15, 2026
Lucky visitors to Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., are getting their first look at a new baby elephant.Linh Mai, a 2-month-old, critically endangered Asian elephant, will be on exhibit exclusively to zoo members for just five days.After that, the general public will get to see her in person starting April 22, Earth Day.After nearly two years of pregnancy, mother Nhi Linh gave birth to Linh Mai on Feb. 2, making her the first calf to arrive at the National Zoo in nearly 25 years.Linh Mai’s mother has rejected her, so the calf is bottle-fed formula every two hours, and an older female elephant, Swarna, has stepped in to help rear her.Zookeepers say they still hope to gradually create a bond between Linh Mai and her mother.
Lucky visitors to Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., are getting their first look at a new baby elephant.
Linh Mai, a 2-month-old, critically endangered Asian elephant, will be on exhibit exclusively to zoo members for just five days.
After that, the general public will get to see her in person starting April 22, Earth Day.
After nearly two years of pregnancy, mother Nhi Linh gave birth to Linh Mai on Feb. 2, making her the first calf to arrive at the National Zoo in nearly 25 years.
Linh Mai’s mother has rejected her, so the calf is bottle-fed formula every two hours, and an older female elephant, Swarna, has stepped in to help rear her.
Zookeepers say they still hope to gradually create a bond between Linh Mai and her mother.