General · 3 February 2026
DC Zoo welcomes 308-pound Asian elephant calf after 25-year wait
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo celebrates the historic birth of a female Asian elephant calf, the first in nearly 25 years. Born February 2 at 1:15 a.m. to 12-year-old Nhi Linh and 44-year-old Spike, the endangered newborn weighs 308 pounds and stands 38.5 inches tall. Officials launched a naming contest requiring $5 donations, closing February 13. The calf walked within five hours and remains off-exhibit for one month to bond with the herd.
Reported by National Zoo · How we write briefs