Second Annual Pumpkin Stomp at the Birmingham Zoo!

The Birmingham Zoo is excited to kick-off the first weekend of Boo at the Zoo with a special pumpkin stomp on Wednesday, October 11 at 10am. The Zoo’s elephants will have a smashing good time receiving a giant pumpkin provided by Sprouts Farmers Market to eat, play with, tear apart and stomp.

Beginning at 10am in the elephant habitat in Trails of Africa, Zoo staff will provide the elephants with this seasonal treat weighing more than 50 pounds. This activity serves as enrichment for the elephants as a part of the Birmingham Zoo’s comprehensive program of ensuring environments and diets for animals are every-changing and appropriately complex.

“We are excited to offer this seasonal form of enrichment for the elephants, as it encourages natural feeding behaviors and is a fun change” says Dr. Stephanie Braccini Slade, Vice President, Living Collections. “Elephants are used to working for their food and a large pumpkin offers both a mental and physical challenge for our bachelor herd.”

Media and guests are invited to visit the Zoo on Wednesday to see the elephants receiving their pumpkins. All participating media is asked to arrive to the Zoo’s membership office by 9:50am to see the event kick-off at 10am with the elephants in Trails of Africa.