Summer has officially arrived, and the elephants are already making the most of the season. Care Staff offered Artie and Osh giant "fruit punch" popsicles, packed with watermelon, pears, cantaloupe, oranges, and banana leaves suspended throughout.
While both elephants eagerly enjoyed the frozen treats, each had their own strategy: Osh wasted no time, quickly devouring his popsicle as soon as it was delivered. Artie took a slower approach, carefully crushing his frozen treat beneath his foot before savoring the icy pieces.
Caregivers also filled one of Artie's favorite wallows with fresh strawberries, creating a refreshing foraging opportunity. Artie patiently used his trunk to bob for the sweet fruit, plucking each strawberry from the cool water one by one.
Enrichment like this is more than just a fun summer activity. Frozen treats provide additional hydration during hot weather while encouraging natural foraging behaviors and offering elephants opportunities to engage with their environment in different ways. And with the season full of swimming, wallowing, exploring, and cooling off just getting underway, there are sure to be many more summer adventures ahead.