Baby Asian elephant makes National Zoo debut on Earth Day
The first Asian elephant calf 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.
Linh Mai, 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.
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.
Linh Mai has also been bonding with her mother and members of their herd.
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 Elephant Cam livestream, where Linh Mai will also make appearances.
