Oregon Zoo hosts 2026 annual pumpkin squish: See Samudra crush a 500-pound pumpkin
A 500-pound pumpkin became a fall treat for Samudra during the Oregon Zoo’s 28th annual “Squishing of the…
A 500-pound pumpkin became a fall treat for Samudra during the Oregon Zoo’s 28th annual “Squishing of the Squash” in Portland on Oct. 17.
The 18-year-old Asian elephant crushed a pumpkin packed with lettuce, apples, and sweet potatoes. According to the zoo, Samudra outweighed it by nearly 10,000 pounds.
His younger sister, 20-month-old Tula-Tu, had her own turn with a smaller pumpkin after the main event.
Why does the zoo give elephants giant pumpkins?
The pumpkins give the elephants something to explore, break apart, and eat. The zoo uses activities like these as enrichment to support the animals’ physical and mental well-being.
The tradition began in 1999, when Hoffman’s Dairy Garden in Canby donated an 828-pound prize-winning pumpkin. This year’s pumpkin came from Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club member Larry Nelson and his daughter, Amanda Gilmour.
This may be Samudra’s last crushing as she is expected to move to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2027, according to Oregon Zoo.
