Elephants at Vienna’s Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo, got into the Halloween spirit by stomping on massive pumpkins weighing nearly half a tonne. After crushing the giant gourds, the elephants eagerly devoured the fruit.
The pumpkins were a gift from the Austrian Giant Pumpkin Competition, held in the historic town of Tulln an der Donau in Lower Austria.
It took several men to lift each pumpkin, and a special crane was needed to move them into the elephant enclosure.
Dagmar Schratter, the zoo’s director, explained how pumpkins offer the elephants a fun change in their diet.
“It was fascinating to see how they used their heads, tusks, and feet to break apart the pumpkins and reach the soft flesh inside,” Schratter said.
The elephants, including Tonga, Mongu, and Iqhwa, wasted no time enjoying the seasonal treat.
Growing pumpkins of this size requires an enormous amount of dedication. According to Martin Lacina of the Austrian Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, many growers devote up to two hours a day caring for their pumpkins, often sacrificing holidays and time off to ensure they’re ready for competition. Lacina added, “Seeing the elephants enjoy the fruits of our labor was wonderful.”
The elephants were the first to sample the pumpkins, but zoo staff promised that other animals, including giant turtles, anteaters, and otters, would also get to feast on pumpkins later in the day.
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