Why do zoo animals get pumpkins? Forplay and public relations

A Siberian tiger plays with a pumpkin at the DierenPark Amersfoort zoo in Amersfoort, Netherlands, October 30, 2014.Photo: REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images

That special season of autumn is with us again. Leaves are changing color, and people areputting on coats against a new chill in the air. Autumn also brings pumpkins intoeveryone’s lives – especially the lives of animals at zoos across the U.S.

Every year, as the U.S. gears up for Halloween, numerous zoos across the country begintaking part in a longstanding tradition: They place pumpkins in their animal's living spaces.The animals can do what they please with these orange gourds. They eat, they play, theysmash.

Pictures of lions, chimps, birds and more flood the internet as they interact with thepumpkins. But one central question remains. Why?

By Ellen Brait, The Guardian, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.25.16 Word Count 596

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Decoration And Nutrition

Ron Evans is in charge of primates, or monkeys and apes, at the Cincinnati Zoo andBotanical Gardens. He said the gourds are more than just decorative and that there is“nutritional value to a pumpkin." Some zoo workers will include treats inside the pumpkinsfor animals to discover. This year, Evans said his staff put sugar-free jello in the pumpkins.They made it look “like brains, kind of traditional Halloween stuff," he said.

Some animals that have no interest in eating a pumpkin will receive one anyway. At somezoos, visitors will find birds with pumpkins, polar bears with pumpkins, owls with pumpkins.Even snakes may get them. At the Cincinnati Zoo, Evans says, staff members let theanimals decide what to do with the gourds.

Smaller animals might “just use them more for going into and hanging out,” he said. Zooworkers sometimes carve out the pumpkins for birds to make them hollow. This providesthem with a place to explore and “something exciting for them in the exhibit.” Elephantscan crush them with their feet. Polar bears can take them underwater, and then perhapshave them for a snack.

Encouraging Natural Behavior

Gigi Allianic works for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. She said pumpkinsare provided in order “to promote natural animal behavior and keep animals mentallystimulated.

The Detroit Zoo says it provides its animals with pumpkins “as part of its comprehensiveprogram of ensuring environments for animals that are ever-changing and appropriatelycomplex”. Their employees hide food items to encourage natural behaviors animals woulddo in the wild, according to a press release. It's good for the animals to practice searchingfor food or hunting for prey.

The purpose behind the pumpkins doesn’t end there, though. They are not just for theanimals benefit but are also meant to entertain guests.

“It’s just one of many ways that we try and engage our guests and capture theirimagination,” Evans said.

Explaining Conservation Efforts

Zoo, of course, rhymes with “boo”, and the zoos take full advantage of other plays onwords for the Halloween season. The Cincinnati Zoo has its annual HallZooween, theDetroit Zoo holds a yearly Smashing Pumpkins event and the Woodland Zoo puts on aPumpkin Bash.

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According to Evans, zoos have been giving animals pumpkins “since the existence ofzoos”. But it wasn’t until about 25 years ago that the Cincinnati Zoo started involving thepublic. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get their message out about other problemsanimals face. They want to remind people about their conservation efforts for thoseanimals they house that are endangered. Animal conservation is about protecting animalspecies in the wild which may be in danger of dying out.

“It gives us the opportunity to talk about conservation issues or whatever else we want totag on to it when people are there,” he said.“

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Quiz

1 Which two of the following sentences from the article include CENTRAL ideas of the article?

1. Every year, as the U.S. gears up for Halloween, numerous zoosacross the country begin taking part in a longstanding tradition:They place pumpkins in their animal's living spaces.

2. She said pumpkins are provided in order “to promote naturalanimal behavior and keep animals mentally stimulated.

3. Their employees hide food items to encourage natural behaviorsanimals would do in the wild, according to a press release.

4. Zoo, of course, rhymes with “boo,” and the zoos take fulladvantage of other plays on words for the Halloween season.

(A) 1 and 2

(B) 1 and 3

(C) 2 and 3

(D) 1 and 4

2 The CENTRAL idea of the article is developed by:

(A) presenting facts to prove that pumpkins are a healthy snack for animals inzoos

(B) explaining the history of zoos giving their animals pumpkins to play with

(C) showing how visitors to the zoo react when they see animals playing withpumpkins

(D) describing how zoo animals react when they encounter pumpkins in theirenclosures

3 Read the sentence from the introduction [paragraphs 1-3].

The animals can do what they please with these orange gourds.

According to the information in the article, a "gourd" is another word for a:

(A) toy

(B) pumpkin

(C) bird

(D) zoo

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4

4 Read the sentence from the section "Encouraging Natural Behavior."

The Detroit Zoo says it provides its animals with pumpkins “as part ofits comprehensive program of ensuring environments for animals thatare ever-changing and appropriately complex”.

What do the words "ever-changing" convey in the sentence above?

(A) They convey the idea that animals can live healthy lives in the zoo, like theywould in their natural habitat.

(B) They convey the happiness the animals feel when they get to play with thepumpkins during this season.

(C) They convey the frustration that some people feel about seeing animals inthe zoo, away from their natural habitat.

(D) They convey the serious job zookeepers have to keep animals safe andhappy.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5

Answer Key

1 Which two of the following sentences from the article include CENTRAL ideas of the article?

1. Every year, as the U.S. gears up for Halloween, numerous zoosacross the country begin taking part in a longstanding tradition:They place pumpkins in their animal's living spaces.

2. She said pumpkins are provided in order “to promote naturalanimal behavior and keep animals mentally stimulated.

3. Their employees hide food items to encourage natural behaviorsanimals would do in the wild, according to a press release.

4. Zoo, of course, rhymes with “boo,” and the zoos take fulladvantage of other plays on words for the Halloween season.

(A) 1 and 2

(B) 1 and 3

(C) 2 and 3

(D) 1 and 4

2 The CENTRAL idea of the article is developed by:

(A) presenting facts to prove that pumpkins are a healthy snack for animals inzoos

(B) explaining the history of zoos giving their animals pumpkins to play with

(C) showing how visitors to the zoo react when they see animals playing withpumpkins

(D) describing how zoo animals react when they encounter pumpkins intheir enclosures

3 Read the sentence from the introduction [paragraphs 1-3].

The animals can do what they please with these orange gourds.

According to the information in the article, a "gourd" is another word for a:

(A) toy

(B) pumpkin

(C) bird

(D) zoo

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6

4 Read the sentence from the section "Encouraging Natural Behavior."

The Detroit Zoo says it provides its animals with pumpkins “as part ofits comprehensive program of ensuring environments for animals thatare ever-changing and appropriately complex”.

What do the words "ever-changing" convey in the sentence above?

(A) They convey the idea that animals can live healthy lives in the zoo, likethey would in their natural habitat.

(B) They convey the happiness the animals feel when they get to play with thepumpkins during this season.

(C) They convey the frustration that some people feel about seeing animals inthe zoo, away from their natural habitat.

(D) They convey the serious job zookeepers have to keep animals safe andhappy.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7