The National Zoo, located at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, introduced 19-year-old Trong Nhi (trong-nEE) and her daughter, 9-year-old Nhi Linh (nEE-lin), to the District today, saying that visitors will be able to observe the pair from 10 a.m. to noon daily at the Elephant Community Center.

A gift from the Rotterdam Zoo in South Holland, Netherlands, the mother and daughter pair will be joining five other elephants that already are residents at the Elephant Trails exhibit: females Bozie (47), Kamala (47), Maharani (32) and Swarna (47), as well as a 41-year-old male, Spike.

One visitor at the Elephant trails exhibit, Krestel Coffee, told 91茄子 that it was cool to see the elephants so close up. 鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome that they鈥檙e finally able to start introducing the elephants and breeding them, especially since we get to see their interactions like two-feet in front of us,鈥� Coffee said.

鈥淟ook at the tusks on that thing,鈥� added Coffee鈥檚 friend, Charlie Gabriel, when Spike, the 41-year-old male, entered the enclosure.

Another visitor 91茄子 caught admiring the new elephants, Casey Fitzmaurice, emphasized how special this occasion was for him.

鈥淚 just happened to visit for a couple of days, so the chance to get to see these massive new elephants on their first day out of quarantine was truly special,鈥� Fitzmaurice said.

Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh have already begun introductions with Spike and the other female elephants, facilitated by the elephant keepers. In these introductions, which the zoo has dubbed 鈥渉owdy introductions,鈥� the elephant team, allow the elephants to communicate and interact safely from behind a barrier.

Keepers observe these interactions to understand if the elephants are comfortable within each other鈥檚 presence, looking for calm and positive movements in their behavior.

One visitor asked a member of the elephant team how the introductions had been going, and he said that Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh鈥檚 introduction to Spike earlier today went well, with positive interactions, and ended with the elephants separating on their own.

Based on recommendations in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums鈥� Species Survival Plan (SSP), the National Zoo plans to breed Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh with Spike in hopes of fortifying the Asian elephant鈥檚 declining population in a healthy and genetically diverse manor.

In a press release, Bryan Amaral, acting associate director of animal care, said the National Zoo is thrilled with the progress Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are making with their transition. Amaral said, 鈥渙ur animal care staff and [the new elephants] continue to learn from and about each other. While this is another sign of our commitment to Asian elephants, it also is significant for the sustainability of the Asian elephant population in North America as well.鈥�

According to the zoo鈥檚 press release, the population of Asian elephants that originate from only 13 countries have suffered population decline due to habitat loss, conflict with neighboring human populations and poaching. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the species endangered with estimates of between 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants remaining.

Updates on Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh鈥檚 progress can be found on the National Zoo鈥檚 Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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The half-mile trail, which runs through the southeastern edge of the National Zoo near the Duke Ellington Bridge, is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. While community members are happy to see it reopen after four years, some are unsatisfied with the current schedule, including D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.

鈥淭here are many, many people in the District who use the trail and would like to see the hours extended,鈥� Norton said.

The Zoo Loop Trail is an important connection between northwest D.C. and the heart of the District, said Washington Area Bicyclist Association Communications Director Colin Browne. Pedestrians and cyclists can use it for commuting and recreation instead of traveling on busy streets.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to keep you away from traffic and is just generally delightful,鈥� Browne said.

The trail allows users to bypass a narrow tunnel path on Beach Drive, which Browne said is unsafe because of its proximity to two lanes of car traffic.聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 a low barrier which isn鈥檛 going to protect anybody from falling,鈥� Browne said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not space for two people on bikes or even a person walking from the opposite direction to be able to pass each other.鈥澛�

A sign near the tunnel entrance reads 鈥淐aution: trail narrows鈥� and suggests cyclists dismount their bikes.

Because the Zoo Loop Trail is closed when it鈥檚 dark, pedestrians and cyclists must travel through the tunnel during a period of low visibility. This could put them more at risk of being struck by a car, according to a .

鈥淭he zoo tunnel along Beach Drive is notorious and people have felt unsafe there for a very long time,鈥� Browne said.

Under the trail鈥檚 current schedule, Browne said people cannot use it for their commutes home. The path is also popular for recreational use, which is being restricted due to its hours of operation, Browne said.聽

鈥淭he zoo has a different set of priorities for how it uses its space that is affecting people鈥檚 ability to move through the city,鈥� Browne said.

The trail hours are tied to the zoo鈥檚 operating hours, said Annalisa Meyer, National Zoo deputy director of communications. This is to maintain accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since the trail runs through the zoo鈥檚 secondary animal containment perimeter.

Meyer said industry security standards require the zoo to have a continuous perimeter fence.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 achieve that security-wise without closing the bike path gates outside of operating hours,鈥� Meyer said.

Since October, Norton has been working to extend the trail鈥檚 hours of operations.聽 The congressmember said she has a special interest in the topic because of her position as chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Norton said she thinks the best options are either extending the zoo鈥檚 hours of operation or building a new secondary fence around the trail. On behalf of the zoo, Meyer said neither option is feasible due to financial and accreditation-related reasons.

鈥淲e are really wanting to make sure that we are keeping people safe and have to abide by accreditation rules in order for us to do that,鈥� Meyer said.

Norton said she is also exploring legislative options to extend the trail鈥檚 hours.聽

In November, Norton requested the House Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies 鈥� which has jurisdiction over the zoo 鈥� add a provision to its upcoming appropriations bill directing the zoo to extend the trail hours in a way that maintains its accreditation.聽

Norton has not heard back from any subcommittee members but said she is still hopeful. While the congressmember would need to 鈥渨ork very hard鈥� to get the provision added, she said she believes there is still time.

鈥淚t’s not yet in any of the House or the Senate [bill] versions, but I think it’s noncontroversial and I’m hoping to get it in,鈥� Norton said.

The congressmember said she is also organizing a virtual town hall for community members to voice their opinions on the trail hours. She has invited the zoo, DDOT and the National Park Service to attend. The AZA has said it is willing to participate in the event, according to a .

Norton said her team is still working on setting a date for the town hall.

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Seventy-five animal-residents at the Smithsonian National Zoo had received at least one dose of the Zoetis vaccine since last week, a zoo spokesperson said.

Zoetis began developing the animal-specific Covid vaccine last year after a dog in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus. Zoetis is donating around 26,000 doses to over 100 zoos across 41 states and in 13 countries, according to spokesperson Christina Lood.

鈥淲e have a long history of supporting zoo veterinarians, and we are proud to continue to help them provide a high standard of care and protect their special and unique animals from COVID,鈥� Lood said.

The National Zoo鈥檚 first round for their orangutans, one western lowland gorilla, a white-eared titi monkey named Henderson, and the two emperor tamarins, Flex and Poe. They鈥檝e since all received their second shots, according to zookeepers. The larger primates are fully vaccinated and the smaller ones are at least halfway to vaccine immunity.

The Zoo鈥檚 felines all took their shots, exception for the lions and tigers that in September. They need to test negative for three months before receiving their first doses.

According to several zookeepers, the otters continued getting vaccinated and the cows and alpacas received their first shots when the bobcats chose not to cooperate that day. Those in charge of dealing with animals at the National Zoo said they love to talk about the animals but a policy restricted their ability to comment freely or be named for this publication.

Violette Rivera said she loves to see the sea lions since they don鈥檛 have them back home at the Philadelphia Zoo.

鈥淚 guess it鈥檚 kind of sad that they’re at risk even in their enclosures, but I鈥檓 glad the zoo is protecting them,鈥� she said about the zoo鈥檚 various animals.

Rivera said her daughter Eloisa liked to watch the smaller primates. While inside the small mammal house, Eloisa hopped alongside the brush-tailed bettongs.

鈥淚t’s depressing that the zoo鈥檚 trying to keep these animals from extinction and they could still get Covid,鈥� she said.

John and Darlene Raptis visited the Amazon house, where keepers fed Flex, Poe and Henderson their breakfasts.

鈥淚f it’s safe for them. then sure, I have no problem with it,鈥� Darlene said about the animal-vaccines.

After a quick prick, keepers reward the animals with their favorite foods. Siamangs Bradley and Ronnie receive raisins, Zoo Spokesperson Jen Zoon said, while keepers give grapes to the red pandas Asa and Chris Anne.

鈥淎ll of the Smithsonian鈥檚 National Zoo鈥檚 primates take part in positive reinforcement training,鈥� Zoon said, 鈥渨hich allows our animals to voluntarily participate in their own healthcare and lessens the need for anesthesia.鈥�

The National zoo focused on species deemed highest risk for infection, which included primates and felines, according to several zookeepers. The list includes others such as the otters, red pandas, and hoofstock like Alpacas. The shots continue as vaccines become available and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and D.C. Department of Health.

Zookeepers employ strict safety measures and zoo policy requires animal care and essential staff to mask indoors. Some exhibits erected new barriers to help social distance guests from the residents.

Identifying which species face the greatest risk of infection evolves as science does due to a lack of long-term studies.

The USDA鈥檚 National Veterinary Services Laboratories announced in November the first two confirmed cases globally of the virus that causes COVID-19 in two spotted hyenas at a Colorado zoo.

鈥溾�嬧�媁e are still learning about SARS-CoV-2 in animals,鈥� USDA said in a press release, and based on the information available, they find a low risk of animals spreading the virus to people.

However, USDA noted people with COVID-19 can spread the virus to animals during close contact.

鈥淚t is important for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to avoid contact with animals, including pets, to protect them from possible infection,鈥� USDA said in a press release.

The Zoetis vaccine must be used within a specific timeframe, with the second shot delivered several weeks after the first. The dose remains the same for all animals, Lood said, with the second shot acting as the booster.

鈥淥ur scientists continue to evaluate the potential need for a third shot,鈥� she said.

In September, six African lions, one Sumatran tiger and two Amur tigers tested presumptive positive for the virus that causes Covid-19. The National Zoo announced in October the animals鈥� conditions improved.

The Oakland Zoo to protect large cats and bears against COVID-19 in July, and Vice President of communications Erin Harrison said vaccinating their animals became a highly regimented and painstaking process.

鈥淭hese animals live there. They don’t have a choice.鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淭hey’re in captivity, and it’s our responsibility to keep them safe.鈥�

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums help keepers and veterinarians coordinate with one another nationwide for best practices and information sharing, Harrison said.

After vaccinating their animals, she said anti-vax groups targeted her staff and harassed them by phone, email and social media.

鈥淚t was disconcerting, you know, our head vet was getting hate calls. She was really shaken and I felt horrible,鈥� Harrison said.

Keepers come in contact with animals every day, Harrison said, and that keeping them safe is crucial. Zoo keeping isn鈥檛 a lucrative profession, she said, and keepers dedicate their lives to the animals they care for.

鈥淭hey’re the ones that build these relationships and trust with their animals and they always want the best for them.鈥�

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