Tallinn Zoo Holds Its Traditional Pumpkin Festival
Tallinn Zoo in Estonia's capital held its annual Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, where animals receive pumpkins and other produce donated by residents. More than four tonnes have already been delivered this year.
Tallinn Zoo in Estonia held its annual Pumpkin Festival on Saturday. Each year, zoo staff ask residents to donate pumpkins and other garden produce to the animals. Kindergartens, schools and people from across the country take part.
Many of the zoo's residents love pumpkins, but elephants eat the most, around 600 kilograms each per year. Marmosets, a small monkey species, eat the least, at 120 grams per year. Only the big cats do not care for them; all the other animals eat them with enthusiasm.
More than four tonnes so far
Anita Tamm, the zoo's communications specialist, said apples are donated in the largest numbers after pumpkins. Each year people are also asked to bring carrots and swedes, root vegetables that keep well and survive the winter. This year's campaign is not over yet, with the last deliveries expected within the next couple of weeks. The zoo has already received more than four tonnes of pumpkins and other vegetables. In total, 52 children's institutions, schools, non-profit organisations and private individuals have taken part, and the postal company Omniva helps deliver harvests from across Estonia.
Some people bring pumpkins themselves. Olga said she and her partner have done so for the second year. The first time the pumpkins were grown for themselves, but this year they grew extra for the animals in the town of Võru, on his parents' plot. They brought roughly 14 or 15 large pumpkins and next year she plans to plant beets and watermelons too.
Elephants steal the show
Many visitors came to watch the animals enjoy the pumpkins, and the elephants were the main stars. Visitor Svetlana recalled an elephant trying to fish an apple out of a barrel with its trunk, while a girl named Mia saw an elephant crush a pumpkin by stepping on it and then eat it piece by piece. She also saw alpacas eating pumpkin.
Although the campaign is nearing its end, the zoo accepts vegetables after it finishes as well. A special box by the zoo's Northern Gate lets people drop off vegetables and apples at any time.
