National Zoo Announces First Elephant Pregnancy in Nearly 25 Years, Is ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About the Baby News

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., is getting ready for a major addition to its elephant family.

On Monday, Nov. 24, the zoo shared that its 12-year-old Asian elephant, Nhi Linh, is expecting a calf — the first confirmed Asian elephant pregnancy at the National Zoo in nearly 25 years.

Zoo officials say Nhi Linh became pregnant after successfully breeding with Spike, a 44-year-old male elephant, in April 2024. The pairing didn’t happen by chance. In 2022, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan issued a breeding recommendation for the two elephants. That guidance comes from specialists who track the genetics and histories of elephants in human care, aiming to match animals who are healthy, compatible in temperament, and not closely related — helping strengthen the long-term genetic diversity of the population.

Nhi Linh still has a long journey ahead before meeting her calf. Asian elephants typically have an 18- to 22-month gestation period, which places her expected delivery window between mid-January and early March. Caretakers say they are “cautiously optimistic” that she will deliver a healthy calf in 2026.

“This calf represents real hope for the future of Asian elephants,” said Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of NZCBI. She added that elephant calves play a powerful role in conservation by helping people connect emotionally with the species. Watching a young elephant grow up in a multigenerational herd, she said, can remind visitors of the intelligence and gentleness these animals share with humans.

With only about 50,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild, every birth is a meaningful conservation win. The zoo hopes this calf will help support the survival of the species and contribute valuable genetic diversity to the North American captive elephant population.

Fans can follow updates on Nhi Linh’s pregnancy through the zoo’s social media channels and by checking in on the Elephant Cam, which offers a live look at the Elephant Trails herd.

This will be Nhi Linh’s first calf. Spike has fathered several calves before, though none survived. The National Zoo is hopeful that this pregnancy will bring a different outcome — and a healthy new generation for the herd.

And if the baby takes after its mother, keepers expect a bold personality: the zoo describes Nhi Linh as likely to raise a calf that’s “feisty and rambunctious,” while Spike is known for a more calm, “gentlemanly” nature.