A baby Asian elephant will be born at Smithsonian's National Zoo for the first time in 25 years

The Smithsonian National Zoo in D.C. is preparing for the birth of a large “charismatic and charming” animal: an Asian elephant calf.

Zoo officials announced Monday morning that an Asian elephant is expected to give birth between mid-January and early March 2026. Elephant pregnancies typically last between 18 and 22 months.

It would be the first elephant birth at the National Zoo in nearly 25 years and a first-time pregnancy for Nhi Linh, 12-year-old elephant

Brandie Smith, the zoo’s director, said the birth represents hope for the species’ future. “The first step to saving any species is getting people to care,” Smith said in a news release.

“As animal ambassadors, elephant calves are as c

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