The Votes Are In: National Zoo’s First Elephant Calf In Decades Now Has Her Name
She had a tiny trunk and a very big debut. Now, DC’s newest elephant finally has a name.
For the first time in nearly 25 years, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute welcomed an Asian elephant calf at 1:15 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, inside the Elephant Barn in Washington, DC.
Nearly two weeks later, zoo officials announced the 308-pound female now answers to Linh Mai.
The name, chosen by the public through a fundraising vote, means “spirit blossom.”
Linh means “spirit” or “soul,” and Mai refers to the apricot blossom, a flower associated with Tết, the …
Tiny Trunk, Huge News: National Zoo Welcomes First Baby Asian Elephant In 25 Years (Video)
It's a girl!
For the first time in nearly 25 years, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is celebrating the birth of an Asian elephant, after a healthy female calf arrived in the early morning hours on Monday, Feb. 2, officials announced.
The calf was born at 1:15 a.m. inside the Elephant Barn to first-time mother Nhi Linh, 12, following a 21-month pregnancy, according to the Zoo. The father is Spike, 44, whose genes — like Nhi Linh’s — are considered critical to strengthening the endangered species’ genetic diversity.
“This birth fills us with profo…
$23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family
A Harrisburg woman pocketed $23,500 from a man trying to bring his family from Vietnam to the U.S.—then vanished, Swatara Township police detailed in court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Thursday, June 5.
Gracie Deguia-Reed, 54, is accused of orchestrating an immigration sponsorship scheme that unraveled over five months. The victim told police he made several cash payments—$7,500, two installments of $3,000, and a final $10,000—in hopes of helping six relatives emigrate to the U.S.
Text messages and hand-written receipts provided by the victim show Deguia-Reed claimed she could spons…
Remains Of Teaneck Soldier Killed In Vietnam Plane Crash Recovered
Albert Trudeau was a 22-year-old Bergen County resident when he was killed fighting the Vietnam War in 1971.
After 53 years, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4, they had finally found the Teaneck man's remains.
In October 1971, Trudeau, a U.S. Army Warrant Officer was, assigned to the 68th Aviation Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, the DPAA said. On Oct. 26, Trudeau was serving as the pilot of a CH-47B “Chinook” helicopter when it went down over water in bad weather while flying in Vietnam, the DPAA said.
The remains of four of …
Dead Snakes, Seahorses Seized From Travelers At Washington Dulles Airport
Snakes, snake oil, sea horses, prohibited pork, and snail ointment were seized from travelers at Washington Dulles International Airport this month, officials said.
The first traveler, who arrived on Aug. 1 from Vietnam, was destined to Fairfax, and referred to a secondary baggage examination, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced.
CBP agriculture specialists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) inspectors discovered prohibited pork, but also found 77 dry seahorses, five jars of snail ointment, and five dead snakes.
The import of the seahorses, snakes, and snail oint…
Norwalk Man Admits To Helping Smuggle People Into US, Child Porn Possession
A Fairfield County man pleaded guilty to helping smuggle four Vietnamese nationals from Canada into the United States and to possession of child pornography.
Jose Angel Portillo-Lopez, age 72, of Norwalk, admitted to charges of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and possession of child pornography on Wednesday, Oct. 12, US Attorney Carla Freedman announced.
Portillo-Lopez admitted that in April 2021, he traveled to the border in the Franklin County village of Burke, New York, and help smuggle the four people into the US for profit, Freedman said.
He also admitted that he …
Harrison's John J. Plunkett, 91, Was The Last American Chief Engineer At The Panama Canal
John J. (Jack) Plunkett, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and Project Engineer, died on his 91st birthday, July 16, 2022 at his home in Niceville, FL. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The son of Frank and Ellen Hackman Plunkett, Jack was born on July 16, 1931 in Harrison,
In his youth, he had a magazine delivery route, a newspaper route, raised pigeons, caddied often, and set pins in a bowling alley. He graduated Harrison High School at age 16 because of the Great Depression when his father lost his home. He was an Eagle Scout with three Palms and was awarded the Order of the…
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John J. Plunkett
