Asian elephants are endangered in the wild, where perhaps only 30,000 still live in forests of south and southeast Asia. They are endangered in North American zoos, too. That's why the 2001 birth of Kandula, the result of artificial insemination, was such a triumph.
This young male represents a major effort by the National Zoo to develop a herd of breeding Asian elephants, build a new Zoo habitat called 
Elephant Trails for these majestic animals. The Zoo’s goal is to ensure a future for this endangered species, which could soon be extinct in the wild and in zoos.
Elephant Diaries
In her latest diary, elephant manager Marie Galloway talks about springtime changes in the Elephant House. Get the full scoop in Marie's new diary entry.
Elephants Get New Enrichment
The Zoo recently received a donation of 32 pickle barrels from the Mount Olive Pickle Company. The pickle barrels are being used as part of an enrichment program for our Asian elephants. The Zoo's animal care staff hang up the barrels in the Barn and outside for several weeks at a time so the Asian elephants can play with, smell, and bang on them.
Learn more and see photos of Kandula playing with the barrels.
A New Home for the Zoo's Elephants
The Zoo is making great progress on Elephant Trails, our innovative new home for our Asian elephants. Phase One is now open!
The Zoo spent the summer of 2010 acclimating its three Asian elephants to their new home. Read about the moving-in process. | See photos.
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All About Elephant Trails: Phase One
Phase One of Elephant Trails, an innovative and expanded home for Asian elephants, opened September 3. Phase One has four elements: a new elephant barn, two new outdoor yards, the Elephant Exercise Trek, and the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost.
See photos of Elephant Trails.
Learn all about the exhibit.
Read All About It
A healthy diet, enrichment items, training, and family herd interactions keep the Zoo’s elephants happy and stimulated. Read the full story.
What is Elephant Trails? A Campaign to Save Asian Elephants! more
National Zoo’s 36-Year-Old Elephant Makes Musical Debut
When the elephant keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo hear the sound of a harmonica, it is not the radio they have left on. more
Mammal Mystery
What animal scales rocks in Africa and is related to elephants but weighs just a few pounds? Find out.
Elephant Enigma
How do you get a four-ton animal to open up and say, "Ahhh"? Find out.
Asian Elephant Neighbors
In Asia, elephants may share broadly overlapping ranges
with tigers, sloth bears, clouded leopards,
and other Zoo species. Thousands of years ago, Asian elephants
and giant pandas may have met. Asia
Trail brings these species together at
the National Zoo.
Other Elephants
One species of elephant lives in Asia, while two different
species live in Africa: the
savanna elephant and the forest elephant.
The savanna elephant, which you may see in many zoos,
ranges through open habitats in eastern and southern Africa,
while the forest elephant occupies central and west African
forests, such as those in Gabon. Only recently did scientists
decide, based on DNA studies, that these two forms were indeed
distinct species. more
