Zoo Elephants Enjoy Pumpkin Treat

By HEATHER GREENFIELD

WASHINGTON – Children visiting the National Zoo had a post-Halloween treat Tuesday, and so did the elephants, at the zoo’s annual Pumpkin Stomp.

Kandula, a 3-year-old elephant, was the first to discover a beach ball-sized pumpkin, which he kicked around as hundreds of children watched.

"It looked like soccer," said Isabelle Konitsas, 10. "I didn’t know they liked pumpkins."

"Immediately, the small one went to the pumpkin, but the mom stayed with the hay. It was very cool," said Virginia Lasih, 11.

The young elephant eventually smashed the pumpkin and ate it.

Dr. Mark Edwards, a zoo nutritionist, said the pumpkins are a good source of beta-carotene and fiber.

"They’re about 90 percent water," Edwards said. "They’re a member of the cucumber family and are a fruit, not a vegetable."

Edwards said the zoo had leftover pumpkins from a Halloween event and more were delivered for an enrichment program that creates random events to surprise the animals.

"It’s good for the elephants because they don’t know when they’re going to get it and a nice treat for our guests too," said Brad Hange, elephant keeper.

The elephants dined on about half a dozen pumpkins. One mother who brought her 3-year-old daughter out for the special event said she expected to see them playing with an entire pen full of pumpkins.

Edwards said in the past the zoo would put out more pumpkins, but they wanted to have the event last throughout the month this year.

The National Zoo still has hundreds of pumpkins, and those who missed today’s event can see elephants munch on the special treats at some point each day through November.

The hippos also had their share of the pumpkin harvest.

Hippos are not as energetic about the pumpkins as elephants, Hange said, but eventually eat the treat.

On the Net:

National Zoological Park: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/