Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s elephants received a special enrichment treat this week as some winning pumpkins from this year’s Dubbo Show were donated to the zoo.
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Grown locally on behalf of students from St Mary’s Public School, the pumpkins weighed about 60 kg each.
The pumpkins were collected by zoo keepers from the Dubbo Show pavilion on Monday afternoon and given to the elephants the next morning.
Young bull Luk Chai was quick to stomp on both the pumpkins in the paddock he shares with the other male, Pathi Harn.
“It is great to be able reuse these pumpkins and their size provides a great activity for the elephants in the comprehensive enrichment program.
"Elephants have excellent problem-solving abilities and giving them these pumpkins encourages them to use these skills,” Elephant Keeper Bobby Jo Clow said.