Halloween brought some extra excitement to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden as animals of all shapes and sizes received pumpkins, playful surprises, and seasonal treats. From powerful hippos crushing pumpkins with their enormous jaws to curious cheetahs inspecting a specially carved jack-o’-lantern, the zoo’s residents had plenty of ways to enjoy the festivities. Some animals wasted no time digging into their snacks, while others seemed more interested in exploring their unusual new toys.
The celebration, known as HallZOOween, offered a delightful look at how different species respond to enrichment activities. For a zoo that has cared for animals for more than 150 years, providing opportunities to explore, play, and investigate new objects is an important part of animal care. This Halloween tradition gave visitors and animal lovers a chance to see those activities in action, with several residents showing off their unique personalities.
Pumpkins Bring Out the Playful Side of Zoo Animals
One of the most entertaining parts of HallZOOween was watching how differently the animals approached their pumpkins. While some immediately recognized a delicious snack, others took their time investigating the unfamiliar objects placed in their habitats.
Rico, a Brazilian porcupine, enjoyed a Halloween celebration complete with pumpkins, ghost decorations, and special treats. His festive setup was one of several seasonal surprises prepared for the zoo’s residents.
The lemurs had a much more straightforward approach to their Halloween gifts. Rather than spending much time playing with their pumpkins, they went straight for the fleshy interior, enjoying the seasonal food.
The cheetahs received something especially fitting for their species: a pumpkin carved with the face of a cheetah. The big cats carefully inspected their new enrichment item, and the zoo’s account described them purring during the interaction. For cat lovers, the cheetahs’ curiosity might have looked familiar. Whether it’s a new toy or an unfamiliar object, watching a feline investigate something different can be just as entertaining as watching them play.
Hippos Show Off Their Incredible Pumpkin-Crushing Power
While the smaller animals explored their Halloween treats, the zoo’s hippos demonstrated a very different way of enjoying pumpkins. Their powerful jaws made quick work of the large seasonal snacks.
The pumpkins barely stood a chance once the hippos began biting into them. It was an impressive display of the strength these enormous animals possess, even during an ordinary feeding activity.
Watching the hippos tackle their pumpkins also highlighted the variety of ways enrichment can be incorporated into animal care. The same seasonal food that encouraged exploration in one species became an opportunity for another to use its natural feeding abilities.
A Clever Crow Solves a Halloween Challenge
Not every Halloween activity involved smashing or eating pumpkins. Tippi, a crow living at the zoo, received a challenge that allowed her to demonstrate her intelligence. The zoo shared a video of Tippi using her problem-solving abilities to reach a tasty snack. Staff introduced the activity with a playful Halloween description, calling her “Scary Smart.”
Crows are known for their remarkable problem-solving abilities, and Tippi’s activity offered a fun example of how enrichment can encourage an animal to work toward a food reward. Instead of simply receiving a treat, she had an opportunity to figure out how to get it.
Her Halloween challenge was another reminder that enrichment does not have to look the same for every animal. Some residents enjoyed pumpkins as food, while Tippi had a task that encouraged her to use her mind.
Gorilla Elle Creates Her Own Halloween Costume
Perhaps one of the funniest moments of the celebration belonged to Elle, a gorilla who appeared to create her own Halloween costume. Rather than receiving a traditional costume from her caregivers, Elle put together a look that inspired some amusing interpretations. Zoo staff jokingly suggested that she might have been dressing as a lion. Other viewers had a different idea, comparing her appearance to the late country music legend Dolly Parton.
The unexpected costume moment gave Elle her own place among the zoo’s Halloween highlights. Her appearance inspired a playful guessing game about which famous look she might have been recreating.
From Rico’s festive celebration to the lemurs’ pumpkin feast, the cheetahs’ careful inspection, and Tippi’s clever challenge, HallZOOween offered something different for every participating animal. And with Elle adding an unexpected costume moment, the Cincinnati Zoo’s Halloween festivities provided plenty of memorable scenes for animal lovers to enjoy.
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