Asian Elephant Program Media Resources

Asian elephant Spike at Smithsonian's National Zoo exhibit Elephant Trails.

Media members can find photos, fact sheets, B-roll, and other resources about the Asian elephant program at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. 

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Background and FAQs | Press Releases | Media | Photo Rights and Usage | Elephant Bios

For media inquiries, including requests to be added to our media list, email ZooSCBIcommunications@si.edu. 

Background and FAQ's

Download a detailed backgrounder on the Asian elephant program (updated November 2025)

Asian Elephant FAQs

Press Releases

Asian Elephant Video and Photo Gallery

Additional Asian elephant footage available on the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's official YouTube page. 

Asian elephants in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo L to R: Spike, Nhi-Linh.

Asian elephants in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo L to R: Spike, Nhi-Linh. (Skip Brown/Smithsonian)

Asian elephant Nhi Linh in the Elephant Trails exhibit at Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Asian elephant Nhi Linh in the Elephant Trails exhibit at Smithsonian's National Zoo. (Roshan Patel/Smithsonian)

Asian elephant Nhi-Linh in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Asian elephant Nhi-Linh in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. (Skip Brown/Smithsonian)

Asian elephants in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Asian elephant Spike stands below a crowd in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. (Skip Brown/Smithsonian)

Asian elephant Spike in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Asian elephant Spike in the Elephant Trails exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. (Skip Brown/Smithsonian)

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Photo/Video Rights and Usage

Media (news) outlets may use the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Asian elephant photos/videos for news purposes only, with credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Approved purposes include print/online articles, broadcast reports and social media feeds.

Filmmakers that wish to use Asian elephant photos/videos in a documentary must receive approval from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the Smithsonian Film Committee. A licensing fee may apply. Fill out the Filming Request Form here.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Elephant Cam may not be streamed live on any non-Smithsonian website or social media platform. The Elephant Cam is copyrighted to the Smithsonian Institution and does not fall under the Smithsonian’s Open Access policy. Media/Individuals that intend to share the Elephant Cam must direct audiences to nationalzoo.si.edu with credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Asian Elephants Currently at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

Spike 

  • Adult male
  • Born July 2, 1981 at Zoo Miami
  • Spike previously lived at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada, where he shared a habitat with Swarna and Maharani.
  • Arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute on March 23, 2018 from Calgary Zoo. 

Nhi Linh

  • Adult female, daughter of Trong Nhi.
  • Born Aug. 10, 2013 at the Rotterdam Zoo in South Holland, Netherlands
  • Arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute on Nov. 7, 2022.
  • Adult female
  • Arrived on Nov. 7, 2022, along with her daughter Nhi Linh.
  • They were a gift to the Smithsonian from the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands.
  • Born May 13, 2003, at the Rotterdam Zoo.
  • Adult female
  • Born around 1975 and lived at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.
  • She moved several times, first arriving at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1976 and later at the Baton Rouge Zoo in 1998.
  • When her companion died, she moved to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in May 2013, where she quickly bonded with Shanthi and Ambika.
  • Bozie is easily identified by her pale gray skin and her expressive vocalizations — she may squeak, honk and trumpet when excited!
  • Adult female
  • Traveled from the Calgary Zoo to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in May 2014 along with Kamala and Maharani.
  • Born in Sri Lanka around 1975, Swarna lived alongside Kamala, Bozie and Shanthi at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage until 1976.
  • She is the most “petite” of the Zoo’s elephants, with distinctive pink outer ear edges.
  • Although small in stature, Swarna has a big personality and may act dominant at times. When she does, Bozie often steps in to keep the peace.
  • Adult female
  • Also known as “Rani.”
  • One of the tallest elephants in the herd.
  • Born July 14, 1990, to mother Kamala.
  • Her name means “princess” in Hindi; true to that name, she expects attention, acts out occasionally and often looked to Kamala for reassurance when encountering something new.
  • Although Maharani had three pregnancies at the Calgary Zoo, none of the calves survived.