Linh Mai is the first baby Asian Elephant born at the zoo in nearly 25 years.
born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in nearly 25 years is making her debut Wednesday, just in time for Earth Day.
, whose name means "spirit blossom" in Vietnamese, is now 2 months old and has already made a significant impression on her handlers at the Washington, D.C. , zoo.
"She's sassy. She definitely has a little bit of attitude," said Robbie Clark, an elephant manager at the National Zoo. Linh Mai, a 2-month-old Asian elephant, wanders her enclosure with a female elephant Swarna during a media preview event at the Smithsonian National Zoo on April 14, 2026. Clark said Linh Mai, who was born to mom Nhi Linh and dad Spike, also loves to play.
"Her favorite pastime, I would say, is bathtime," he said. "It's great for her development. It's good enrichment. It keeps her interested, active, playing.
" When she was born on Feb. 2, Linh Mai weighed 308 pounds. Now, she's nearly 500 pounds, according to Clark, who said Linh Mai is still growing every day, with a weight gain average of about 3 pounds a day. The National Zoo hopes Linh Mai's growing popularity will shine a strong spotlight on the conservation efforts of Asian elephants, who are 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 see Linh Mai in action when they visit the National Zoo. Admission is free, but as interest in the calf and zoo is high, the zoo recommends reserving visits 30 days in advance. The zoo also offers an
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