Baby elephant trampled by mom doing fine

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Oregon Zoo officials say a newborn elephant is doing well after it was trampled by its mother shortly after its birth Saturday.

Linda D'ae-Smith, a public relations specialist for the zoo, said the young elephant and its mother, Rose-Tu, now seem to be getting along swimmingly and the mother has been seen nursing her child, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Tuesday. She said the baby was not seriously injured by Saturday's incident.

"There's a sense on the keepers' part that things are going well," Smith said.

She said the mother elephant is being allowed to roam unrestrained while her child follows closely on a harness. The baby elephant likes to run after his mother, she said.

"He's running after mom," Smith said, adding that nursing "is going great but he's spending more time running than nursing."