A new elephant calf makes her debut at the National Zoo on Tuesday, in celebration of Earth Day!
The Asian elephant, Linh Mai, is the first one born at the zoo in nearly 25 years.
Linh Mai was born in February, and since then, the elephant enclosure has been closed so she can bond with her herdmates.
But finally, the 500-pound calf is ready to meet her adoring fans and appear on the Elephant Cam.
The rare birth in captivity and the elephant calf’s Earth Day debut highlight the plight of Asian elephants, which are endangered. There are only an estimated 50,000 or fewer in the wild, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and their population has dropped by about 50% over the last 60-75 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
If you plan to visit the zoo, make sure you reserve free passes in advance.
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