Elephant Herd Squish the Squash at Oregon Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 25, 2021 1:07 pm

Asian elephants at Oregon Zoo were given massive pumpkins to play with as part of the annual squishing of the squash

Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo

Oregon Zoo have begun their annual Howloween celebrations with the 23rd squishing of the squash event. As part of the event the Asian elephant family were able to demolish some of the largest pumpkins which the area had to offer.

Due to the physical distancing restrictions in place it was not possible for guests to attend the event but the elephants did not miss out on their annual fun.

“Everything looks a little different for us this year, but the elephants didn’t seem to mind,” senior keeper Dimas Dominguez said. “They got one 650-pound pumpkin and a couple more pretty big ones to play with. First, they destroy them, then they enjoy them.”

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The squishing of the squash is an annual event dating back to 1999. Hoffman’s Dairy Garden of Canby dropped off a prize-winning 828-pound pumpkin for the elephant family. It was common at the time for farmers to drop off overstocked pumpkins for use in animal enrichment activities.

This year the pumpkins were provided by Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club members Larry Nelson and Jacob Baldridge.

Oregon Zoo began their groundbreaking animal enrichment program in the 1980s. They are also recognized for the Asian elephant program which has been supporting the species for 60 years.