An elephant family picks pumpkins at the Oregon Zoo. But this kid just wanted to play ball

An elephant baby at the Oregon Zoo had more tricks than treats to show off when handlers gave him a small pumpkin to play with during an annual fall event where giant elephants smash half-ton pumpkins.

At eight months old, weighing just 775 pounds (351.5 kg). Asian The elephant Tula-Tu weighs about the same as a giant pumpkin so it is too small to break them. Instead, zookeepers gave him a small pumpkin to practice with. A video from the zoo shows the baby elephant rolling a gourd around like a soccer ball.

Her elephant family at the Oregon Zoo enjoyed the large pumpkin at the annual “Squishing of the Squash” on October 16, a tradition dating back to 1999 when a farmer donated a pumpkin weighing 828 pounds (376 kg). Thanks to competitive hobbyists from the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club, the pumpkins donated this year have grown larger, nearly 1,000 pounds (450 kg).

To break down the giant gourds, zookeepers present them to Tula-Tu’s adult relatives such as her brother and father, who weigh a little more than 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg). In a video from the zoo, they are seen delicately placing one foot on top, and gently pressing down. Pumpkins crack with a loud noise, causing the peel and seeds to fly out.

Videos from years past have shown medium-sized, young elephants placing both feet on top of pumpkins, but they are too light – or lack the technique – to keep the larger vegetables from being torn apart.

This year adult elephants smashed giant pumpkins in front of cheering crowds of zoo visitors, and then the elephant family ate tons of the squash pieces.

According to Oregon Zoo officials, Asian elephants like Tula-Tu and his family are considered highly endangered. The number of such elephants in the wild is around 40,000 to 50,000. India till Malaysian island of BorneoBut there have been successful conservation milestones in recent years, including cambodia,