On February 2nd, at roughly 1 am, the National Zoo’s Asian Elephant, Nhi Linh, delivered the zoo’s first calf in almost 25 years!
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of the world’s leaders regarding the care, research, and conservation of animals that regularly face threats, driving them to the brink of extinction, so the birth of this calf is a critical achievement regarding the global effort to conserve the endangered Asian Elephant specieis.
How is the calf doing?
The calf was born in seemingly good health and is being cared for by the National Zoo’s excellent staff and her mommy to ensure she is thriving.
As of February 3rd, the calf and her mom, Nhi Linh, will not be on public display for the time being as they develop their bond and the calf develops a bit further.
How is it going to be named?
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has established a naming vote to determine the name of the calf.
The voting pool is limited to a list of four potential names, but a donation must be made to the National Zoo’s conservation efforts in order to cast a vote!
The four potential names, each of which is Vietnamese, honor the language of the calf’s native region:
- Linh Mai
- Pronounced: “LIN my” — with a soft g sound at the end of “Linh”
- Spirit blossom — Linh means “spirit” or “soul,” and Mai refers to the apricot blossom.
- Thảo Nhi
- Pronounced: “tOW” — rhymes with cow — “nee”
- “Gentle and beloved” – Thảo means gentle or kind and is associated with nature; Nhi means small, little one, or beloved.
- Tú Anh
- Pronounced: “tOO ahn,” with a soft “ng” sound at the end of Anh
- “Bright and intelligent” – Tú suggests excellence or beauty; Anh suggests brightness and intelligence.
- Tuyết
- Pronounced: “TWET,” rhymes with wet
- Traditionally means “snow.” Nhi Linh gave birth in the aftermath of winter storm Fern, which dropped 6 inches of snow and ice in the D.C. area.