Elephants smash pumpkins during annual Squishing of the Squash

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Pumpkins beware! The Oregon Zoo’s annual Squishing of the Squash has returned.

On Thursday morning, the zoo’s Asian elephants smashed massive pumpkins before feasting on their innards, in a tradition dating back to 1999.

“The tradition dates back to 1999 when Hoffman’s Dairy Garden of Canby dropped off a prize-winning 828-pound pumpkin for the elephant family,” the Oregon Zoo said. “Farmers often offered their overstock pumpkins for use in the zoo’s groundbreaking animal enrichment efforts — enhancing animals’ well-being with stimulating and challenging environments, objects and activities.”

This year’s event featured an 800-pound pumpkin that the zoo called “Gourdzilla.”

Watch the 2024 Squishing of the Squash in the player above.

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