{"id":7750,"date":"2026-04-18T02:36:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7750"},"modified":"2026-04-18T02:36:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:36:05","slug":"national-zoos-first-elephant-born-in-25-years-finds-a-friend-after-getting-rejected-by-her-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7750","title":{"rendered":"National Zoo&#8217;s First Elephant Born in 25 Years Finds a Friend After Getting Rejected by Her Mom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A baby elephant at the Smithsonian&#8217;s National Zoo has befriended another elephant after being rejected by her mom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Swarna, an older female elephant, is helping zookeepers care for 2-month-old Linh Mai<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The calf, the first elephant born at the zoo in almost 25 years, will make her public debut on April 22<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Smithsonian&#8217;s National Zoo has welcomed its first baby elephant in almost 25 years, and she&#8217;s already making friends ahead of her public debut.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Washington, D.C., zoo first <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/national-zoo-celebrates-announces-first-elephant-pregnancy-in-nearly-25-years-11855862\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:announced mom Nhi Linh's pregnancy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;announced mom Nhi Linh'&quot;}\">announced mom Nhi Linh&#8217;s pregnancy<\/a> in November last year, and Linh Mai was born on Feb. 2, weighing 308 pounds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She was rejected by her mom, Nhi Linh, shortly after her arrival, according to <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonian.com\/2026\/04\/15\/national-zoo-elephant-linh-mai\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washingtonian;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Washingtonian&quot;}\">Washingtonian<\/a>. As a result, the Asian elephant calf has required 24-hour care from zookeepers, including bottle-feedings every two hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Her public debut is scheduled for April 22, and visitors can reserve passes <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/nationalzoo.si.edu\/passes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:on the zoo's website;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;on the zoo'&quot;}\">on the zoo&#8217;s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Robbie Clark, elephant manager and acting curator of the zoo&#8217;s Elephant Trails exhibit, told Washingtonian that the team has been &#8220;working very, very, very hard, long hours to make sure [Linh Mai] has everything she needs to thrive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Linh Mai and Swarna playing at the Smithsonian&amp;#39;s National Zoo in Washington D.C.Credit: Anna Moneymaker\/Getty\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/H2Aa0DiovxsylfCvfjH0Bw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/1b5b0416c748ea5ed056d317028bd645\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Linh Mai and Swarna playing at the Smithsonian&#8217;s National Zoo in Washington D.C.<br \/>Credit: Anna Moneymaker\/Getty<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">An older female elephant, Swarna, is aiding the zoo&#8217;s staff. She&#8217;s helping to raise the calf as keepers continue working to form a bond between Linh Mai \u2014 who has already gained over 100 pounds \u2014 and her birth mom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Although Swarna has never birthed a calf herself, she is a natural when it comes to instinctually caring for one,&#8221; <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/nationalzoo.si.edu\/animals\/news\/elephant-calf-linh-mais-social-circle-grows\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the zoo explained;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;the zoo explained&quot;}\">the zoo explained<\/a> in March. &#8220;Swarna displays just the right balance of &#8216;maternal care&#8217; along with giving Linh Mai some independence.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite her mom&#8217;s rejection, Linh Mai appears to have had a positive start to life. &#8220;She&#8217;s incredibly smart and curious,&#8221; Clark told Washingtonian, adding, &#8220;She definitely has a little personality that&#8217;s blossoming. She is rambunctious. She is sassy. She&#8217;s playful. She very much loves her bath time. It&#8217;s been truly rewarding to get to know her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She&#8217;s recently been able to put her curiosity into action by exploring outdoor areas ahead of her public debut, which coincides with Earth Day, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The timing is intended to highlight the vital conservation efforts needed to protect elephants, especially since fewer than 50,000 remain worldwide, <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/elephant\/asian-elephant\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to the World Wide Fund for Nature;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;according to the World Wide Fund for Nature&quot;}\">according to the World Wide Fund for Nature<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At the time of Linh Mai&#8217;s birth, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.edu\/newsdesk\/releases\/female-asian-elephant-calf-born-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:zoo officials said;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;zoo officials said&quot;}\" class=\"link \">zoo officials said<\/a> they hoped the calf would provide more genetic diversity to the captive elephant population in North America.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Linh Mai&#8217;s arrival has already touched hearts and drawn comparisons to Punch the monkey, who went viral earlier this year after being rejected by his mom and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/baby-monkey-at-zoo-goes-viral-for-having-stuffed-animal-as-friend-11908504\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:having a stuffed orangutan as his only monkey friend;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;having a stuffed orangutan as his only monkey friend&quot;}\">having a stuffed orangutan as his only monkey friend<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Punch struggled to connect with the other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, after being hand-reared by zookeepers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <\/strong><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;PEOPLE'&quot;}\"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Several weeks after introducing Punch to his monkey troop, the zoo told fans that <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/zoo-home-to-punch-the-monkey-responds-to-claims-the-abandoned-macaque-is-constantly-being-bullied-11924392\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:more monkeys were starting to play with and look after Punch;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;more monkeys were starting to play with and look after Punch&quot;}\">more monkeys were starting to play with and look after Punch<\/a>. &#8220;Because of this, the time [he] spends away from his stuffed toy has increased,&#8221; the Japanese zoo explained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/baby-elephant-national-zoo-rejected-by-mom-finds-friend-11951465\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW A baby elephant at the Smithsonian&#8217;s National Zoo has befriended another elephant after being rejected by her mom Swarna, an older female elephant, is helping zookeepers care for 2-month-old Linh Mai The calf, the first elephant born at the zoo in almost 25 years, will make her public debut on April 22 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2241,1779,8660,49,249,10392,687,629,10123,3489,10391,1196,1554,4690,291,10393,4801,110,10395,101,474,1191,10389,2464,67,320,66,1182,299,2799,5852,10394,10397,10396,47,528,10400,10399,456,478,9202,454,10390,10398],"class_list":["post-7750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news","tag-ahead","tag-april","tag-arrival","tag-baby","tag-born","tag-born-years","tag-calf","tag-care","tag-debut","tag-elephant","tag-elephant-born","tag-female","tag-finds","tag-finds-friend","tag-friend","tag-friend-rejected","tag-helping","tag-hours","tag-linh","tag-mom","tag-monkey","tag-national","tag-national-zoo","tag-older","tag-pe-ts-fun","tag-people","tag-pets-news","tag-pounds","tag-public","tag-punch","tag-rejected","tag-rejected-mom","tag-smithsonian","tag-swarna","tag-time","tag-told","tag-washington","tag-washingtonian","tag-year","tag-years","tag-years-finds","tag-zoo","tag-zoo-elephant","tag-zookeepers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7750\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}