Now in high-definition, these cameras are operated by Friends of the National Zoo volunteers to ensure web visitors have the chance to see the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Asian elephants — Spike, Ambika, Shanthi, Bozie, Kamala, Swarna and Maharani — both inside the Elephant Community Center and outside in their yards.
Please note: While the cameras will be streaming live 24 hours a day, volunteer operators will only be following the elephants during regular business hours.
Asian elephants are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Perhaps only 30,000 still live in forests of south and southeast Asia. For nearly 40 years, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has pioneered efforts to study, understand and protect Asian elephants, both in the wild and in human care. Adopt an Asian Elephant today!
Elephant Trails is more than an exhibit; it is also an extensive conservation program built on decades of science. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s rich history of caring for and studying Asian elephants spans more than a century. Scientists at the Zoo and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are working to create a comprehensive view of Asian elephant biology, behavior, reproduction, genetics, migration, elephant endotheliotropic virus (EEHV), and the challenges surrounding human-elephant conflict.
