Asian elephant born at Washington DC zoo for first time in 25 years

"The 308lb (140kg) female calf was born at 1.15am on 2 February to 12-year-old mother Nhi Linh and 44-year-old father Spike, the zoo announced in a statement. After waiting nearly 25 years for an Asian elephant calf, this birth fills us with profound joy, said Brandie Smith, director of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). What we learn from our elephants in DC directly strengthens our work to protect wild Asian elephants across south-east Asia."

"Asian elephant pregnancies last on average 18 to 22 months and Nhi Linh's pregnancy was 21 months. The calf is Nhi Linh's first offspring, although Spike sired three calves at other zoos who unfortunately did not survive. Since Nhi Linh and Spike's genes are not well represented in zoos, their calf will help strengthen the genetic diversity of the Asian elephant population in North America and around the world, the zoo said."

A 308 lb (140 kg) female Asian elephant calf was born at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC at 1.15am on 2 February to 12-year-old mother Nhi Linh and 44-year-old father Spike. Nhi Linh's pregnancy lasted 21 months within the species' typical 18–22 month gestation. The calf is Nhi Linh's first offspring; Spike previously sired three calves at other zoos that did not survive. Because Nhi Linh and Spike's genes are underrepresented in captive populations, the calf will strengthen genetic diversity for Asian elephants in North America and globally. The calf will bond with her mother for a month before public debut, and the zoo is inviting public participation in a naming vote via $5 donations for four Vietnamese-origin names.

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