Randuwa II: Smithsonian National Zoo Snapshots #3: Asian Elephant

A few back now, the Smithsonian National Zoo made the choice to expand and emphasize it's herd of Asian Elephants. All across the United States, Elephants in "captivity" have become a cause celeb for PETA and their ilk. Ironically, PETA was founded about 5 miles away from were I live today. Protests and miss-representation of Animal welfare has cause some zoos to cease their care of elephants. Within AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) members, standards for the care of elephants have increased greatly in the past 30 years and continue to do so. As a result of this, and other cultural forces, zoos have had to make the choice to either care for elephants well, or not at all, if they want to maintain their AZA accreditation. When you see elephants at AZA zoos, wildlife parks and sanctuaries you will not see animals maintained in cramped spaces, or in numbers less than 4. Elephants are social creatures and need the company of other elephants.

Within the world of Asian Elephant care a couple of zoos that I've visited and been very impressed with are Denver and Smithsonian National here in DC. Denver specializes in males and DC's main focus in on females, although they have one male named Spike whose presence is an intentional part of the AZA Species Survival Breeding program. At one point the National Zoo was home to just females. When that was true, they had 5 older ladies and a younger female who was the daughter of one of the older females. In a twist of fate, several of the older females had started out life as orphans at the same elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka. Coming back together in DC was, therefore, a bit of a reunion. And it seemed that they recognized each other after decades of living apart. Elephants, they are the best of creatures!

Two of the older females have since died and so the last time I visited there were just 4 plus Spike.

Bozie (F) - age 48
Kamala (F) - age 48
Swarna (F) - age 48
Maharani "Rani" (F) - age 33 (Swarma's daughter)
Spike (M) - age 42

The average life expectancy for an Asian Elephant is around 55. The data is not deep enough to be statistically solid; however, in captivity, the median age of a female is 47 years. The conditions of captivity vary widely. At the National Zoo, the past matriarch of the herd, Ambika (1948-2020), lived to be 72.

I think that I'm keeping up on what's what at the National Zoo, so imagine my surprise when during my recent visit, I encountered two new-to-me Asian Elephants! How had I missed this news? How long have they been here? The answer is just about 11 months. They arrived in early November of 2022. They didn't first appear outside in the Asian habitat until late December 2022. Both are females. By the National Zoo's standards, both are young. They are a mother and daughter combo presented to the National Zoo from the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands.

Trong Nhi (F) - age 20
Nhi Linh (F) - age 10

On the day of my visit, the main barn was wide open. Spike and Rani were hanging out inside. Swarna and her BFF's, Bozie and Kamala, were in the near yard and the pool yard sort of moving between the two. Besides these spaces, there is another yard on the opposite side the pool yard off of the near yard. Then beyond that area through that yard there is access to the much larger open valley with another pool of water. The water in the pool yard is deep enough for the elephants to enter and submerge themselves when the mood takes them for a swim. The pool in the valley yard is of the same dimensions, but not nearly as deep. It's deep enough for belly wash or to drink from. Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh were together and quite clingy in this larger space. Even though it's almost been a year, it felt like they don't yet feel comfortable interacting with the others. The latest new member before them was Spike back in 2018. However, he had the advantage of already living with Swarna, Rani and Kamala at the Calgary Zoo. He was a known quantity, and easily socially accepted. Trong and Nhi have only known Rotterdam.

However, long it may take, time is not of the essence. Patience and gentle, affecting care will eventually open their sensibilities to deeper relationship with the others. It was exciting to see the possibilities for natural social development for all of the elephants that the introduction of Trong and Nhi have initiated. Without further ado, I give you Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh.

Trong Nhi with her daughter Nhi Linh behind her, nearly hidden from view at this angle.

A small portion of the Valley Yard.

A closer look. Nhi Linh on the left, Trong Nhi on the right.

A bird's eye view. In the habitat, containers of straw are located at various places that require the elephants to use their trunks to explore them to obtain their food. It mimics the natural state of foraging in the wild.