Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., debuted two new female Asian elephants at the end of December, who are now officially on view for visitors at the zoo.
“We are thrilled at the progress the new elephants are making in their transition to our facility,” Bryan Amaral, acting associate director of animal care at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), said in a press release.
The elephants—19-year-old Trong Nhi and her 9-year-old daughter Nhi Linh—were brought to the National Zoo in November from the Rotterdam Zoo in South Holland, Netherlands, after matching as possible candidates for socializing and breeding within the zoo.
- Credit: Rotterdam Zoo via Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh were briefly quarantined in the elephant barn as part of standard procedure, but they now join one male elephant and four female elephants at the NZCBI Elephant Trails exhibit.
“Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are not only important social additions to our herd, but also they are key to our efforts to help sustain the Asian elephant population in North America and around the world,” said Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars director of NZCBI, said in a news release upon their arrival in November. “Most people will never have a chance to see Asian elephants, which are endangered, in their native countries.”
For more information visit nationalzoo.si.edu.