Elephants, Chimpanzees And Many Other Animals Receive Special Treats At NC Zoo

By Rod Hackney

Asheboro, NC - “Smashing Pumpkins” may be the name of one of today’s top rock bands, but it’s also an apt description of what happened involving some of the animals at the North Carolina Zoo this past Friday.

The zoo continued a Halloween tradition on October 31, when elephants, chimpanzees and gorillas got the chance to pound, pulverize and eventually partake of pumpkins in their exhibits. It’s all part of the zoo’s ongoing animal enrichment program, but was a treat for visitors as well as the animals. In addition to real pumpkins, chimpanzees and gorillas received paper mache pumpkins filled with treats provided by students at the Asheboro High Zoo School located on zoo grounds.

The elephants were the opening act when they were released into their exhibit at 9 a.m., followed by the chimpanzees at 9:30 a.m. and gorillas at 10 a.m. According to zookeepers, the pumpkins provide both mental and physical stimulation for the animals, allowing them to manipulate the giant vegetables and experience their taste and smell.

 The zoo is located on Zoo Parkway (N.C. 159) six miles southeast of Asheboro off U.S. 220 and U.S. 64. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 2-12 and $8 for seniors 62-and-over and college students. Operating hours through October are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.
 The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor.