A monkey, a chimpanzee and an elephant are the top contenders this year for the Oregon Zoo's 'Mother of the Year.'

The "little guy" now weighs in at around 770 pounds, nearly 500 pounds more than his birth weight.  And it appears he's into sports. "He loves playing with a blue ball, knocking it around with his trunk soccer-style," said Bob Lee, senior elephant keeper at the zoo.

"We received more than 17,000 votes," the zoo's deputy director said. In the end, the name Samudra, Hindi for "lord of the ocean," got the most votes. The playful calf is fond of water and is now close to its mother after a rough start.

The zoo's baby elephant needs a name. Oregon Zoo elephant keepers are asking the public to help them choose a name for the 2-week-old elephant calf. Keepers have come up with five names and are asking people to vote for their favorite on the zoo's Web site.

People stood in line for hours Saturday to get their turn to see the Oregon Zoo's newest Asian elephant. Once they entered the viewing area, they spoke in whispers and snapped lots of photos.

After a rocky start to life, the Oregon Zoo's week-old Asian elephant is ready to make his much-anticipated public debut. Beginning Saturday, Aug. 30, Rose-Tu and her new calf will be together in the indoor viewing gallery.

"We're making adjustments to the indoor viewing gallery to help accommodate the calf," said Bob Lee, senior elephant keeper. "We're also making plans to modify the outdoor yards to make them safer."  Lee added that it may be a while before the calf goes outdoors.

"We expected roaring and trumpeting, which we haven't heard," said Mike Keele, the zoo's deputy director and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' species survival plan coordinator for Asian elephants. "The initial introductions were fairly quiet and calm."

Keepers from the Oregon Zoo removed the last of the 14-year-old elephant's leg restraints Tuesday and unharnessed her newborn calf, allowing them the chance to nurse and roam unrestricted.

Zoo officials said the pair has been together since Sunday afternoon, and the mother has been much calmer around the infant, letting it nurse on either side of her and even tucking it under her.

Rose-Tu started kicking the male calf following its birth at the Oregon Zoo in Portland on Saturday. It was the first time a mother elephant has rejected her baby in 28 elephant births at the zoo.

The first-time mother seemed confused during the birth and showed aggression to the calf. Veterinarians and keeper staff quickly intervened, but reintroduction efforts are now underway.

Zookeepers, veterinarians and volunteers are keeping a close watch on Rose-Tu, the elephant at the Oregon Zoo who is expected to give birth any minute now. Blood tests showed a drop in her progesterone levels, which means Rose-Tu is almost ready to give birth.

"The birth of a new baby is the most enriching thing that can happen in an elephant herd," said Mike Keele, the zoo's deputy director, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan coordinator for Asian elephants.