Portland, United States - February 19, 2025 A charming new video of 2-week-old Asian elephant Tula-Tu tumbling through a pile of hay with her mother, Rose-Tu, is lighting up screens ahead of the baby’s public debut this Friday, Feb. 21, at the Oregon Zoo. Visitors will soon see the playful pair live in Forest Hall, the indoor retreat of the zoo’s renowned Elephant Lands habitat, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—though with limited capacity and hours that may shift if the duo needs rest. “We know everyone has been eager to see Tula, and we appreciate your patience,” said Steve Lefave, the zoo’s elephant caretaker. “We’re taking things slowly to make sure Rose-Tu and her new calf are completely comfortable.” Born Feb. 1, Tula-Tu’s hay-fueled frolic with mom adds to her soaring fame, hot on the heels of two NBC Today show spots and a “cutest animal of 2025” buzz. Fans eager for a front-row peek should reserve tickets online now. The video’s viral glow could shine a light on Tula-Tu’s wild cousins, with just 40,000-50,000 Asian elephants clinging to fragmented habitats from India to Borneo amid human sprawl. “The more exposure people have,” University of Michigan’s Stephanie Preston told Forbes, “the more likely they are to consider it important to conserve the spaces where the species live”—a stark reality where 20% of humanity neighbors elephant territory. The Oregon Zoo, a 60-year veteran in elephant care, is channeling this calf’s spotlight into action. “In Borneo, home to the world’s smallest and rarest elephants, our partnership with the Wildlife Rescue Unit means more rangers are protecting rescued calves,” Lefave said. With a $1 million endowment and ties to the AZA’s SAFE program, the zoo’s work—replanting forests, carving corridors, and easing local tensions—makes Tula-Tu’s haystack romp a symbol of hope.