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VISITORS: The Harvard Street NW Bridge/entrance to the Zoo will be closed to vehicular traffic until 1:00 p.m. today, Oct. 19, to facilitate a federal highways bridge inspection. Pedestrians will have access to the bridge throughout the closure.
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  3. Elephant Cam
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Elephant Cam

Please note: The elephant cam is undergoing routine maintenance, and intermittent outages may occur throughout the day.

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 six Asian elephants — 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.

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Adopt an Asian Elephant

asian elephant

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

elephant in outside yard

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.

Asian elephant News

Asian elephant in the water in Myanmar
Sep. 01, 2017
Helping Wild Elephants Where They Roam, Pt. 2
Smithsonian scientists are tracking endangered Asian elephants in Myanmar via satellite collars, and their efforts to understand how elephants use their habitat has revealed a troubling rise in...
Aug. 04, 2017
A Day in the Life of an Elephant Keeper
For Asian elephant keepers, working among the giants of the animal kingdom entails training, enriching and caring for the Zoo's multi-generational herd, as well as contributing to research and...
Aug. 04, 2017
Spotlight on Training: Asian elephant Kamala
Ever since 42-year-old Asian elephant Kamala arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in May 2014, keeper Amanda Bobyack has helped her settle into her habitat. Part of that adjustment included...
More news about this animal

Gibbon Tuyen Euthanized

White-cheeked giboon
Tuyen, a 10-year-old female white-cheeked gibbon at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, was humanely euthanized Oct. 12, after suffering from progressive neurologic disease and acute seizures.