AssetID: 53150011
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Smashing Pumpkins! Oregon Elephants Take Part In 'Squishing Of The Squash' Tradition
Caption: Some of the world's largest land animals took part in a unique spectacle as they demolished colossal pumpkins at the Oregon Zoo's 25th annual Squishing of the Squash event. "We provided our elephant family with some exceptionally large pumpkins to stomp on and munch," revealed Steve Lefave, the overseer of the zoo's Asian elephant enclosure. "They first obliterated them and then relished the tasty remains." The three elephants, Chendra, Rose-Tu and Sung-Surin, certainly seemed to enjoy themselves! The origins of this tradition trace back to 1999 when Hoffman's Dairy Garden of Canby bestowed an award-winning 828-pound pumpkin to the elephant family. Local farmers often contributed excess pumpkins to support the zoo's pioneering animal enrichment initiatives, which aim to enhance the well-being of animals by providing stimulating and challenging environments, objects, and activities. This event serves as a prelude to the zoo's annual 'Howloween' celebration, presented by Banfield Pet Hospital, scheduled for later this month on October 28th and 29th. It offers children an opportunity to showcase their costumes while also learning about wildlife in a fun and secure environment. This year's mammoth pumpkins, ranging from approximately 500 to 700 pounds, were generously supplied by Larry Nelson and his daughter, Amanda Gilmour, members of the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club. In a world where wild Asian elephants confront threats from habitat loss, conflicts with humans, and diseases, their population has dwindled to a mere 40,000 to 50,000 individuals, scattered across fragmented regions from India to Borneo. The Oregon Zoo has taken proactive steps by creating a $1 million endowment fund dedicated to supporting Asian elephant conservation.
Keywords: pumpkins,oregon,vegetables,halloween,elephants,feature,photo,video,zoo,animals
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