At the Oregon Zoo, it was time for their annual “Squishing of the Squash” event. Visitors just charmed by an endearing performance by Tula-Tu, Tula an eight-month-old Asian elephant. At 775 pounds (351.5 kilograms), Tula-Tu dropped jaws with her size. Her creative technique made smashing pumpkins super fun, eliciting high-energy applause amid the Fall festive honks.
Our annual event originated in 1999 with the amazing donation of one giant 828-pound (376-kilogram) pumpkin. Over the years, it has blossomed into a much larger program. According to one report, this year’s pumpkins tipped the scales at nearly 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms). Heartfelt thanks to members of the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club, who generously donated them. Tula-Tu might be too little to take on the biggest pumpkins, but she has her own adorable approach. Gingerly, she places one foot on top of the pumpkin and applies her weight.
Tula-Tu’s adult relatives, like her father and brother, can weigh just a bit more than 10 tons (9,000 kilograms)! As members of the Oregon Zoo’s elephant family, they help themselves to the big pumpkins on this special colorful holiday. The event draws thousands of visitors each year, who come to see the elephants interact with the giant gourds.
Asian elephants are under serious threat of extinction. According to estimates, there are only between 40,000 and 50,000 of these magnificent creatures left in the wild. Their home ranges cover a habitat corridor from India to Borneo. Beyond being an impressive residence for these incredible behemoths, the Oregon Zoo is doing truly impactful conservation work. There have been remarkable recent milestones in the conservation and management of Asian elephants, with particularly encouraging successes in Cambodian landscapes.
