The morning sun warmed the dusty paths of the City Zoo as Leo hurried toward the elephant habitat. He had been waiting for weeks to see the newest resident, a baby elephant named Tulu. When he finally reached the overlook, a crowd had already gathered, but Leo managed to find a spot right against the wooden railing.
At first, all Leo saw were the massive, gray legs of the adult elephants. They stood like giant pillars in the sand. Suddenly, a small, wrinkly head poked out from behind a large female elephant. It was Tulu! She was much smaller than Leo expected, barely reaching the height of her mother’s knee. Her skin was covered in fine, dark hairs, and her ears looked a bit too big for her head, flopping back and forth as she trotted into the open.
Leo watched in delight as Tulu tried to use her trunk. It seemed to have a mind of its own, swinging wildly as she attempted to sniff a clump of hay. She hasn't quite figured that out yet, Leo thought with a smile. Tulu clumsily stepped on her own trunk and let out a tiny, high-pitched trumpet that made the crowd laugh. Her mother, a gentle giant named Maya, used her own powerful trunk to nudge Tulu back toward the center of the herd.
The zookeepers had placed a shallow pool of water in the enclosure to keep the animals cool. Tulu marched toward it with great determination. She splashed into the water, kicking her legs and sending spray everywhere. The older elephants watched her closely, always staying within reach. Leo realized that the whole herd worked together to keep the baby safe. As Tulu finally tired herself out and leaned against her mother for a nap, Leo felt lucky to have witnessed the baby elephant's first big day in the sun.
