The Smithsonian's National Zoo and the Conservation Biology Institute announced on Monday that 12-year-old Asian elephant Nhi Linh is pregnant and could give birth to the zoo's first elephant calf in nearly a quarter-century.
Asian elephant pregnancies last an average of 18 to 22 months, according to the zoo. Staffers are "cautiously optimistic" that Nhi Linh will deliver a healthy calf sometime between mid-January and early March, according to the zoo's press release.
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Spike, a 44-year-old Asian elephant who has been with the zoo since 2018, sired the calf.
"This is huge, and certainly for our facility, we haven't had a baby on the ground for quite some time," said Dr. Donald Neiffer, the zoo's chief veterinarian, in an interview with "Today."
"Everything right now is pointing to ... we expect a normal delivery," he added.
Asian elephants are an endangered species, with fewer than 50,000 left in the world. And the zoo has seen just two elephant births in its 136-year history, The Washington Post's Michael E. Ruane noted.
Nhi Linh's 22-year-old mother Trong Nhi also conceived with Spike in April 2024, but her pregnancy ended prematurely. Nhi Linh and Spike's genes are "not well represented in zoos," meaning their calf will "help strengthen the genetic diversity" of Asian elephants in North America and beyond.
Brandie Smith, the zoo's director, said the calf "represents real hope for the future of Asian elephants."
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"The first step to saving any species is getting people to care. As animal ambassadors, elephant calves are as charming and charismatic as they come," Smith said. "I can't wait for visitors to experience the joy of watching our multigenerational herd socialize, play and learn -- reminding us how much we share with these gentle, intelligent animals."
Once born, the calf will join a herd consisting of its parents, grandmother Trong Nhi, 51-year-old Bozie, 51-year-old Swarna and 35-year-old Maharani.