Elephant Calf Tula-Tu Enjoys A Big Birthday Cake And Ball

Asian elephant calf Tula-Tu is 1 year old today, and the Oregon Zoo celebrated her with a party fit for a half-ton toddler. The festivities kicked off with a brand-new ball from Portland Fire, followed by special keeper talks and a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” from zoo guests. And the icing on the cake? Icing on the cake!  “Elephant care staff made a special layer cake out of some of Tula’s favorite foods,” said Steve Lefave, who oversees the zoo’s elephant care program. “It was full of crunchy lettuce, apples and sweet potatoes, and they used coconut milk to frost the outside. In the end it weighed over 25 pounds!”