PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) – A favourite fall custom, the annual “Squishing of the Squash” On the Oregon Zoo, continued Thursday – regardless of bodily distancing requirements stopping a public viewing.
Portland’s resident elephants pulverized A pair of of the area’s largest pumpkins in whOn the zoo referred to as a “prelude to ‘Howloween.’”
“Every thing appears Barely completely different for us this yr, However the elephants didn’t Appear to thoughts,” senior keeper Dimas Dominguez said. “They acquired one 650-pound pumpkin and a couple extra pretty huge ones to play with. First, they destroy them, then they take pleasure in them.”
Based mostly on the zoo, the custom started in 1999 when Hoffman’s Dairy Backyard in Canby dropped off a prize-worthwhile 828-pound pumpkin for the elephants to take pleasure in.
“In these days, native farmers typically donated overstock pumpkins To be used Inside the zoo’s groundbreaking animal enrichment efforts — enhancing animals’ properly-being by offering stimulating and difficult environments, objects and actions,” the zoo said.
This yr’s pumpkins acquired here from Larry Nelson and Jacob Baldridge of the Pacific Big Vegetable Growers Membership.
The ‘Howloween’ festivities kick off later this month, the place the zoo invites youngsters To return Exhibit their costumes the placeas studying about wildlife.
The weekend occasions run Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 28–31.