The Asian elephants at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo had a unique breakfast on Friday, indulging in a massive 728kg pumpkin, the largest ever featured at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The pumpkin, along with other giant produce from the show, was repurposed as a special treat for the zoo’s elephant herd.
The star of the feast, the record-breaking pumpkin, had previously been showcased at the Great Backyard Pumpkin Challenge in the Flower and Garden Pavilion.
The zoo’s elephants, including the 3,300kg Pak Boon and young calves Pathi Harn and Tukta, eagerly explored and devoured the enormous gourd.
Elephant Keeper Steve Westnedge shared that introducing new foods like this helps stimulate the elephants’ curiosity and encourage their natural skills.
“Elephants are incredibly intelligent animals, and enrichment like this giant pumpkin is a great way to challenge and engage them,” Westnedge explained.
Taronga Zoo’s elephants typically enjoy a varied diet of fibrous plant materials, including palm logs and pineapple plant tops, consuming up to 100kg of food daily.
When keepers saw the giant pumpkin featured in the news, they saw an opportunity to provide a nutritious and stimulating experience for the herd.
The prize-winning pumpkin, grown by Dale Oliver, holds the title of the largest ever cultivated in Australasia.
While such produce is usually recycled as green waste after the show, organizers were pleased to donate it to the zoo’s largest residents, adding a memorable highlight to their week.
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