The Oregon Zoo’s youngest Asian elephant is halfway to 1 today, and what a year it’s been so far: In her first six months, Tula-Tu has delighted fans around the world with her playful personality, sparking community connections and hope for an endangered species.
Since her Feb. 1 birth to mom Rose-Tu, Tula has already made two appearances on NBC’s Today show — which named her frontrunner for “cutest animal of 2025” — and served as grand marshal of the Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade. Alaska Airlines joined the celebration with an imaginative float design inspired by the young elephant’s playfulness and charm.
“Tula-Tu has quickly become a symbol of hope and connection,” said zoo director Heidi Rahn. “Not only for our zoo community, but for the entire region. Having her recognized in the Grand Floral Parade was a joyful nod to the importance of conservation and coming together for wildlife.”
Experts say interest in the Tula-Tu could spell good news for her wild counterparts. “The more exposure people have,” University of Michigan professor Stephanie Preston said in a Forbes article about the young elephant, “the more likely they are to consider it important to conserve the spaces where the species live.”
The playful pachyderm has been growing fast in both confidence and size, according to Steve Lefave, who oversees the zoo’s elephant area. Tula-Tu now tips the scales at nearly 650 pounds — about three times her birth weight — and has taken some dips in the large pool at Elephant Lands.
“Tula’s hitting all the important developmental milestones,” Lefave said. “She’s still nursing but also starting to explore solid foods like bamboo leaves and alfalfa. Her taste buds are developing so we have yet to discover her favorite treats. Texture and food that is fun to play with seem to interest her the most right now.”
Highly endangered in their range countries, Asian elephants are threatened by habitat loss, conflict with humans and disease. It’s estimated that just 40,000 to 50,000 of them remain in fragmented populations from India to Borneo, and their home range overlaps with some of the most populous human areas on the planet — 20% of people worldwide live in or next to Asian elephant habitat.
“Tula isn’t the only tiny elephant we’re caring for,” Lefave noted. “In Borneo, which is home to the world’s smallest and rarest elephants, our partnership with the Wildlife Rescue Unit means more wildlife rangers are working to protect rescued calves and reunite them with their families.”
The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its elephant care program, which has spanned more than 60 years. It has established a $1 million endowment fund supporting Asian elephants, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE program to advance conservation across all 13 of the species’ range countries. Beyond direct elephant care, the zoo collaborates with local partners in Borneo to create lasting conservation solutions, from replanting forests and establishing protected corridors to fostering peaceful coexistence between elephants and communities.
Source: Oregon Zoo