WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Smithsonian Zoo announced the name of its newest bundle of joy this week, a female baby elephant born Feb. 2.
The zoo invited the public to vote on the new baby’s name, and the results are in. The little elephant is now called Linh Mai. Linh Mai is Vietnamese and means “spirit blossom.” Linh Mai was born to 12-year-old elephant Nhi Linh.
“With fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, every birth is a symbol of hope and a reminder that protecting elephants starts with all of us,” the zoo said in a statement on its website.
Officials said Linh Mai is settling in, and she and the herd are getting to know each other under the supervision of zoo staff.
Linh Mai is the first elephant calf to arrive at the zoo in 25 years. She joins a herd of six adults, including Spike, Bozie, Swarna, Maharani, mother Nhi Linh and grandmother Trong Nhi. Linh Mai’s mother and grandmother arrived from the Rotterdam Zoo in 2022. Zoo staff said on Facebook that they’ve been “working around the clock” to help build strong bonds between Linh Mai and her mother and grandmother.
The elephant exhibit is one of the most popular areas of the zoo, and visitors can see the elephant herd outside or visit them during daily demos, where visitors will get to learn about the elephants and their care.
The Smithsonian Zoo is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to the public. You must prebook an entry pass to visit the zoo, and parking passes are available for $30.
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