12-Year-Old Elephant Stomps and Snacks on Giant Pumpkin in Messy Halloween Tradition at U.S. Zoo (Exclusive)Moná ThomasTue, October 27, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC
Duncan enjoyed a donated pumpkin as part of Denver Zoo’s annual Squish the Squash enrichment tradition
The zoo’s six male Asian elephants receive daily activities supporting their mental and emotional health
Asian elephants are endangered, with habitat loss from unsustainable palm oil farming posing a major threat
Duncan the elephant is getting into the Halloween spirit, one squashed pumpkin at a time.
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) shared a video on Facebook of the Asian elephant stomping and smashing a giant pumpkin, then taking a bite out of the messy remains.
The pumpkins, donated by Brian Deevy, whom DZCA described as a longtime supporter and “pumpkin-growing enthusiast,” are smashed as part of the zoo’s fall tradition called Squish the Squash, per ABC News Denver.
“We have a generous donor who is also a pumpkin-growing enthusiast who every year donates a number of large pumpkins specifically for our elephants to enjoy,” Jake Kubie of DZCA tells PEOPLE exclusively. “This year Duncan was one of the lucky recipients of the squash and seemed to really enjoy it.”
Duncan the elephant smashing a pumpkin during the annual ‘Squish the Squash’ event at the Denver ZooCredit: Denver Zoo
While the treat looks like pure fun, Kubie says the activity supports animal care.
“The animal care team is always trying to find ways to keep our animals mentally and emotionally healthy and happy,” he explains. The elephants try new foods, feeding methods, and challenges nearly daily, but Kubie says, “The pumpkin just happens to be a nice fall Halloween-themed enrichment for the animals.”
DZCA is home to six male Asian elephants. The pumpkins appear during twice-daily demonstrations, where guests can watch the animals perform trained behaviors that let them take part in their own medical care without sedation.
Duncan, 12, arrived at the zoo in 2023 and is one of its younger and smaller elephants. “He’s definitely known as one of our very playful and sweet elephants,” Kubie says. “Being one of the younger ones, he’s here learning a lot from some of our older elephants like Groucho, who’s our 56-year-old,” he adds.
Asian elephants have a median life expectancy of about 50 years, though they often live much longer, especially in human care, Kubie tells PEOPLE.
Kubie hopes visitors leave the Denver Zoo with a deeper understanding of the animals.
“They’re incredibly intelligent animals and require a lot of special attention from all different aspects of care, physical care, mental care, emotional care, nutritional care,” he says.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Asian elephants as endangered on its Red List. “There are only about 35,000 Asian elephants in the world, and they are a species that’s under a lot of pressure,” Kubie adds.
One of the biggest threats to elephants is habitat loss to palm oil farming. He explains that palm oil appears in many everyday items, from shampoo to candy, and when it isn’t grown sustainably, people often clear elephant habitats to make room for it.
One simple way everyday consumers can help these animals is by “making sure that the products that you use are made with sustainable palm oil products,” Kubie says.
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The Denver Zoo is also celebrating the Halloween season with Boo at the Zoo, its after-dark trick-or-treat event featuring nine candy stations, cryptid creatures, costumed characters and a new Wild Fall Market with “seasonal treats and treasures.” The event’s final regular night is Friday, Oct. 30, from 4:30 to 9 p.m., followed by a sensory-friendly night on Halloween.
“We encourage people to come and visit our elephant boys here at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance,” Kubie says. “Fall is a gorgeous time here, and it’s a wonderful time to be at the zoo.”
Source: Nature
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