For the first time in nearly 25 years, the National Zoo is introducing a baby Asian elephant to the public. Linh Mai, who was born at the zoo in early February, at a weight of 308 pounds, has spent her early days out of view, requiring 24-hour care for her emotional and physical development.
“Our team is working very, very, very hard, long hours to make sure she has everything she needs to thrive,” says Robbie Clark, elephant manager and acting curator of the zoo’s Elephant Trails. “It’s one of the most exhausting things that I’ve ever had to do.”
Linh Mai requires constant care from the team, which has been taking round-the-clock shifts. She drinks a special elephant-milk replacement out of large baby-bottle-like containers, and the hungry calf demands her bottle every two hours, chugging the entire volume in a mere two to three minutes.
“A lot of people ask if we burp her, and no, we don’t,” says Clark. “But she has such a grip on drinking her bottles now that she actually collapses the bottle to get as much milk as she can. We have to constantly break the seal.” She has already gained more than 100 pounds and is expected to gain one to two a day for the next year.
Now, after months of nurturing, Linh Mai is ready to meet her fans. What’s her budding personality like? She’s already responding to her name, and she enjoys running after her caretakers. “She’s incredibly smart and curious,” Clark says. When not exploring or splashing in pools, she’s been spending her days learning to socialize with the zoo’s 52-year-old female elephant, Swarna, who’s become one of Linh Mai’s trusted auntie-like companions. She’s still learning to socialize with her mother, Nhi Linh, who initially rejected her after birth (a not-so-rare occurrence with elephants).
As for Linh Mai’s dad, Spike, he’s occasionally around. Recently, Mai “booped” her 13,000-pound parent—a playful elephant nudge that’s a sign of growing confidence. She’s also vocal, prone to “rumbles and roars” when she wants attention, is hungry, or needs a nap.
Now that she’s grown a bit, Linh Mai is slowly moving out into the five acres of outdoor space that’s accessible to the public, allowing visitors to finally see her. “She definitely has a little personality that’s blossoming,” says Clark. “She is rambunctious. She is sassy. She’s playful. She very much loves her bath time. It’s been truly rewarding to get to know her.”
Linh Mai’s public debut is set for April 22. (The zoo’s elephant cam, which has been offline while the baby acclimates, will also return on that date.) It’s not a coincidence its happening on Earth Day: One goal is to raise awareness for elephant conservation and protection. US Fish and Wildlife estimates there are only 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, with continued declines due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, and poaching.
Jenae Barnes previously reported and fact-checked for Capital B Gary in Indiana, 5280 Magazine in Denver, Forbes in New York and ABC News in Washington, D.C. She is a 2024 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow. As a DC-area native, she received her Bachelor’s from George Mason University and Master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School.
