World Cup fans missing the excitement of the tournament may have found an adorable new athlete to cheer for.
Tula-Tu, a playful young elephant with a growing fan base online, has captured hearts with her enthusiasm for playing ball. She may not be kicking game-winning goals, but her moves are impressive in their own charming way.
Instead of aiming for a net, Tula prefers rolling around on top of her enormous ball, nudging it across the ground and batting it with her trunk. A recent clip showed off several of her favorite tricks, along with the unmistakably happy expression that has made her such a social media favorite.
“Tula got a bigger ball,” the caption explained.
At roughly 1,300 pounds, Tula had apparently outgrown her previous ball, which was given to her for her first birthday by Portland Fire and Rescue. The smaller toy was no longer quite enough for the rapidly growing elephant, so she was upgraded to a much larger version.
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Tula wasted no time putting the new ball to use, climbing over it, pushing it around and turning playtime into her own version of a championship match.
The sweetest moment came near the end, when Tula intertwined her trunk with her mother’s as part of the game.
Fans on TikTok quickly flooded the comments with affection, with many marveling at how much Tula has grown while still looking like an oversized baby.
“She’s so big,” one viewer wrote.
“She is such an adorable goof!” another added.
Others joked about wishing they could have a baby elephant of their own.
“It’s so unfair that I don’t have a baby elephant!” one fan commented.
However, it was the tender moment between Tula and her mother that drew the strongest emotional reaction.
“Yeah, I can’t really handle the trunks intertwining without crying for some reason,” one viewer admitted.
Between her giant new ball, playful personality and touching bond with her mother, Tula may be the perfect cure for anyone still feeling the post-World Cup blues.