This whopper pumpkin was grown by horticulture student Michelle Chambers at South Metropolitan TAFE, as part of a growing competition to test different soils, nutrition, and hydroponic growing methods.

The massive pumpkin, aptly named an ‘Atlantic Giant’, was donated to the Zoo for Permai to enjoy – and WOW, enjoy it she did!
 

Getting an enormous pumpkin through the Zoo is no mean feat, and it turned quite a few heads.

Once in place, Keeper Steve added a generous layer of peanut butter to make it extra delicious!

Permai didn’t waste a second. With one powerful stomp she cracked open the pumpkin and happily scooped up the tasty insides.

This type of enrichment is key to keeping elephants like Permai mentally and physically stimulated. They are natural foragers, and giving them something to manipulate, explore and crack open helps to keep their minds sharp and encourage their natural behaviours.

After all, a squash that big deserves a jumbo send off!
 
This is the second jumbo delivery our elephant’s have had this month, with their specially designed transport crates arriving last week.

Our elephant team will be taking small steps each day to ensure both Permai and Putra Mas see this crate as a safe space before they start their cross-country adventure to Monarto Safari Park.

It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the elephant pair, but our eles deserve the very best, and the new herd and habitat will give them just that!