PITTSBURGH — Officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium say a baby elephant’s appetite is improving following insertion of a feeding tube to help it gain much-needed weight.

Zoo spokesman Tracy Gray said the still-unnamed female calf is taking in more food through the tube “and she’s also taking more bottles.”

On Saturday, the zoo posted on a blog devoted to the elephant that the baby had taken a short walk “and we’re beginning to see her feisty personality return.”

The baby was born prematurely in May and was rejected by its mother.