Baby elephant makes Earth Day debut at National Zoo

A 2-month-old Asian elephant named Linh Mai made her public debut Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, marking the first elephant birth at the facility in nearly 25 years and drawing a crowd of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the endangered species’ newest arrival on Earth Day.

Linh Mai — whose name means “spirit blossom” in Vietnamese — was born Feb. 2 to 12-year-old mother Nhi Linh and 44-year-old father Spike after a nearly 22-month pregnancy. Zoo officials said both parents carry genes not widely represented among elephants in North American zoos, making the birth especially significant for the long-term conservation of the endangered species.

The calf’s integration with her herd hit an early snag when her mother showed signs of aggression and had to be separated from her. Swarna, a 52-year-old elephant, stepped in as a surrogate figure.

“Under the circumstances, we actually couldn’t be more happy about what we’re seeing today,” said Robbie Clark, the zoo’s elephant manager. “Swarna has stepped in as a surrogate aunt, and Linh Mai is thriving today.”

Staff have observed Swarna waking up through the night to check on the calf, with the pair together around the clock. Mr. Clark said the elder elephant is helping teach Linh Mai the fundamentals of using her trunk — a skill critical for eating, drinking, breathing and communicating.

Zoo Director Brandie Smith said staff would monitor Linh Mai closely throughout her debut. Asked how the calf was handling the attention, Smith did not mince words.

“So far, I mean, she’s a little ham,” Ms. Smith said, adding that Linh Mai seemed to be enjoying the people and the attention.

Ahead of the public opening, zoo members were given preview access to the elephant enclosure so the calf could be gradually introduced to larger groups. Mr. Clark said Linh Mai settled in within the first half-hour.

The Earth Day timing was deliberate. Asian elephants are classified as endangered, with an estimated 50,000 or fewer remaining in the wild, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The World Wildlife Fund says the population has declined by roughly 50% over the past 60 to 75 years, driven primarily by habitat loss.

Nilanga Jayasinghe, a director on the World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Conservation team, said the slow reproductive cycle of Asian elephants — females carry calves for up to two years, followed by an extended period of nurturing — makes each birth critical.

“Because those intervals are long, every new individual is important,” Ms. Jayasinghe said.

She added that Asian elephants often receive less public attention than their African counterparts, and urged people to start by simply learning that the species is endangered.