No, Tula-Tu will not ride on a float in downtown Portland, as generally done with Grand Marshals in years past ...

The donkey and elephant became political symbols in the United States through a combination of political satire and popular culture, primarily driven by cartoonists in the 19th century.

Oregon Zoo's baby elephant Tula-Tu has been named Grand Marshal of the 2025 Grand Floral Parade, a highlight of Portland's Rose Festival.

The elephant and the horse played a major role in shaping Indian culture. The elephant is native to India; the horse is not.