A New Star at the Zoo
There is a tiny new face at the National Zoo, and everyone is smiling because of her. Her name is Linh Mai, and she is a baby elephant, also called a calf.
Visitors gather along the fence to watch her wobble around on her short, chubby legs. With her big ears flapping and her little trunk swinging, she looks like she is waving hello to everyone.
What Is She Like?
Baby elephants are very playful, just like puppies and human toddlers. Linh Mai loves to splash in water, roll in soft dirt, and chase after her mom.
She is still learning how to use her trunk. A trunk is like a super-bendy nose and hand all in one. It takes a baby elephant a while to learn how to grab and slurp with it, and she sometimes trips over it!
Always Close to Mom
Linh Mai stays very close to her mother. Mother elephants are gentle and protective, and they teach their babies almost everything.
Like all baby mammals, Linh Mai drinks her mother's milk to grow big and strong. She will keep drinking milk for a few years before she eats only plants like grass, leaves, and fruit.
Why Elephants Are Amazing
Elephants are the biggest land animals on Earth. A grown-up elephant can be as tall as a basketball hoop and weigh more than a small truck.
They are also very smart and kind. Elephants remember their friends, work together in groups called herds, and even comfort each other when they are upset.
Helping Elephants in the Wild
Asian elephants, like Linh Mai, are endangered. That means there are not many of them left in the wild and they need our help.
Zoos help by teaching people about elephants and supporting projects that protect them. When you visit and learn about Linh Mai, you become part of the team that cares about elephants too.