Cute overload: Exclusive photos of Houston Zoo's new baby elephant ...

Photo by Julie Soefer

The Houston Zoo welcomed baby Tupelo Sunday, Oct. 3 to mom Tess, making her the second Asian elephant born at the Zoo's McNair Asian Elephant Habitat in less than five months.

Here, CultureMap shares exclusive first photos of the calf with her herd.

Tupelo sticks close to mom Tess

Photo by Julie Soefer

Tupelo began nursing around four hours after she was born. Curator of Large Mammals Daryl Hoffman tells CultureMap that Tupelo has already learned to eat as much as she can, when she can, before mom Tess shoves her off.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Baylor stands next to aunt, Mithai. At 41 years old, Mithai is the oldest female in the heard as well as the most respected. She often cares for the calves as if they were hers.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Here, both calves are visible. Tupelo stands to the right under her mother, Tess, and Baylor's little butt is visible on the left next to aunt Mithai.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Tupelo was born weighing 273 pounds, but her 29-year-old mother still dwarfs her.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Tupelo playfully chews on the cables in front of her many spectators. Her delivery and bonding went so smoothly that Hoffman tells CultureMap she is the fastest calf to go on exhibit.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Adult males are isolated from the rest of the herd, leaving a hierarchy of females to keep the calves in check. Here, Mithai and Tess stand guard over Tupelo.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Tucker, seen on the right, is a 5-year-old half-brother of Tupelo. He's prone to what Hoffman calls "Tucker tantrums," and was put in time-out shortly after this photo was taken.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Tupelo sticks close by the other elephants. Hoffman says it's too early to tell if she'll be adventurous or more like Baylor, who has been deemed a momma's boy by Zoo staff.

Photo by Julie Soefer