Oregon Zoo Elephants Squish Squash For the 23rd Year In A Row

Portland OR

15 October, 2021

1:59 PM

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PORTLAND, OR — With apologies to Billy Corgan, this is what smashing pumpkins is all about. For the 23rd year in a row, the Oregon Zoo hosted their "Squishing of the Squash." Because of COVID-19 safe distancing mandates still in place, the zoo couldn't allow visitors. "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." Live in Portland? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. The tradition started in 1999 when the elephants received the gift of an 828 pound pumpkin from a farm in Canby. Playing with pumpkins is a way to help enrich the elephants' lives, zoo officials said. Animal enrichment has long been a focus at the zoo. They hosted the first animal enrichment conference almost 30 years ago. The pulverizing of the pumpkins is a precursor to the zoo's annual Halloween celebration, where kids can arrive in costume and experience the zoo and enjoy educational activities. It takes place this weekend and next.