• Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
We Are South Devon
Advertisement
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
No Result
View All Result
We Are South Devon
No Result
View All Result

Giant gorillas meet giant pumpkins…

We Are South Devon by We Are South Devon
November 3, 2015
in Community News
Giant gorillas meet giant pumpkins…

What happens when you give big pumpkins to big gorillas…?

Riverford Organic Farms donated two gigantic pumpkins to the animals at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. The mega-vegetables, each weighing roughly 70 kilos, were grown by Riverford for their Pumpkin Day, held last Saturday.

2015 10 PZ pumpkin a5
Rachel Lovell from Riverford said: “We had 1300 people on the day, lots of kids and veg box customers had their photo taken with the pumpkins – they became real stars! They were grown especially for this annual event and we hate waste, so we thought this would be a good use for them!”

Phil Knowling, from Paignton Zoo, said: “Huge pumpkins like these make great environmental enrichment for animals – it’s like giving your pet a toy, just with a bit more science. We gave them to the gorillas but smaller animals like red pandas and spider monkeys enjoy them too – they can climb right inside a hollowed out pumpkin. It’s great to see what they do with these unusual and unexpected items!”

2015 10 PZ pumpkin b6
Rachel again: “We have a really good relationship with the Zoo and help by donating milk for Eliska – their baby giraffe – as well as bringing tree frogs and lizards to add to their collections from time to time. As we are organic we get more wildlife in our fields and sometimes in the crops themselves!”

Environmental enrichment aims to encourage natural feeding and foraging behaviours, stimulate mental and physical activity and provoke curiosity using unusual objects and situations. It can range from puzzle feeders and wind chimes to unusual scents and cardboard boxes with food hidden inside. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has won awards for its enrichment work and hosted regional and international conferences on the subject. Paignton Zoo is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 01803 697500.

Previous Post

More Torquay (used to) Rock!

Next Post

Torbay Illegal Tobacco Campaign is huge success

Related Posts

Community News

Cockington Court celebrates artist’s residency with exhibition by James Murch

January 30, 2023
Community News

Don’t let ‘toxic mould’ scammers into your home, Trading Standards warns

January 30, 2023
Community News

Flybe ceases trading and cancels all flights

January 30, 2023
Community News

Have your say on new Housing Assistance Policy for Torbay

January 30, 2023
Community News

Join Zog on his magical forest adventure at Forestry England’s Haldon Forest Park

January 30, 2023
Community News

£30 million Government funding for innovative projects to decarbonise UK highways

January 30, 2023
Next Post
Sniffer dogs to help will illegal tobacco campaign in Torbay

Torbay Illegal Tobacco Campaign is huge success

  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article

© 2023 We Are South Devon Brought to you by Griffiths Networking

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article

© 2023 We Are South Devon Brought to you by Griffiths Networking