It’s fall, y’all! Leaves are changing, nights are cooling off, elephants are active, and the habitats are filled with pumpkins!

Caregivers enjoy watching the many varied ways the elephants interact with their pumpkin enrichment. Sissy kicked her pumpkin, which caused it to roll away from her, so she had to chase after it before eating. Since most of these were extra-large pumpkins, they had to be stomped on to break into smaller pieces—but several of the smaller pumpkins got devoured whole.

DONATE PUMPKINS TO THE ELEPHANTS

Tennessee residents can join The Sanctuary staff October 11, 12, and 13 for pumpkin carving as part of Hohenwald’s Oktoberfest—the carved pumpkins will be delivered by Care Staff to the elephants in their habitats. No elephants will be present at these events.

Then, starting October 25, The Sanctuary will begin accepting uncarved, non-decomposing pumpkins from the public at a drop-off site outside The Elephant Discovery Center. Caregivers will carve and fill the pumpkins with hay and produce for the elephants.

We say it all the time—it takes a team to care for elephants! It truly does. Our team includes donor services and development, education and communications, facilities maintenance and warehouse, and husbandry and veterinary staff. Our team also includes you, our incredible supporters. From big projects like our soon-to-be-built Elephant Health Care Center to smaller-scale endeavors like celebrating the start of fall with pumpkin enrichment—it takes all of us!