Squishing of the Squash at the Oregon Zoo
Elephants Playing with Pumpkins at the Oregon Zoo
Hundreds of people gathered around, squeezing in tight, jostling for a view. The cold October air whipped through on the sunny morning, making us all wish for a hot cup of cocoa or coffee.
We sat there, watching two massive pumpkins sitting in the middle of a perfectly raked sand area, making it resemble a zen garden. Waiting for the elephants to arrive. Then, at 11am, the gates opened and out they came. I had wondered what would happen if they simply weren’t interested, but that clearly was not the case.
The four elephants knew exactly what was happening, and headed straight for the pumpkins.
The youngest, Lily, raced out ahead of the pack, checking in on the big pumpkins, before moving on. She seemed to know they’d hidden another pumpkin, possibly just for her, because she instantly went straight for the tiniest of pumpkins sitting up on top of a tree stump.
The elephants pushed the pumpkins around, stepping on them, and playing with the pieces with their trunks, before tucking it into their mouths and munching away. The pumpkins were grown in Oregon and weighed from 550 pounds up to nearly 1,000 pounds. Even with that bulk, they were crushed instantly beneath the elephants’ massive feet.
The elephants clearly love it.
~ZieBee
Camera Notes
Camera: Pentax K-3, with Pentax 18-135mm lens. Primarily zoomed in as close as I could, with a few wide angle shots.
Location: The Oregon Zoo for the annual Squishing of the Squash event on Friday October 27, 2017. If you’re looking to go, get there early to claim a spot as it fills up fast.
*Note: All photos are edited to be small and low quality for web viewing, which unfortunately causes pixelating and decrease in quality.
About the Author & Artist
Hello, my name is Mackenzie and I am a multipassionate fusion creative. I love animals, the great outdoors, and creating long lasting, deep connections with the people in my life. It is my goal in life to spread love and laughter, and to help brighten the world one moment at a time. My art, photography, writing, and creative projects bring me great joy to create, curate, and share.
If you have a story to tell, want to start a business, or simply want some new photos taken or new art in your life, please get in touch, I would love to work with you.