Animals

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm grows pumpkin harvest using elephant and rhino poo

The Editor

Oct 11, 2023 — 2 min read

By Jill Dando News

A world-leading zoo has grown a record-breaking pumpkin harvest - thanks to their very own elephant and rhino poo.

The wonderful Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, based near Wraxall, Somerset has grown 3,000 pumpkins this harvest, some of which were quirky and uniquely shaped.

The pumpkins were grown using a blend of elephant and rhino dung.

Larry Bush, managing director of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, explains how the idea to use the dung came to fruition: “As part of our regular schedule of animal enrichment, the resident elephants in our 20-acre Elephant Eden habitat were given pumpkins as a seasonal treat.

"A few months later, our team was pleasantly surprised to find an abundance of pumpkins sprouting from the elephant dung heap!

"This accidental success led to the intentional cultivation of pumpkins, which has now become a cherished annual tradition at the zoo.

“The unique combination of a wet, warm summer twinned with our use of elephant and rhino poo, has resulted in a huge crop of pumpkins this year.

"From Warty Goblins to colossal Atlantic Giants, our pumpkin patch boasts a spectrum of truly enchanting gourds!”

Chris Wilkinson, curator at Noah’s Ark, added: "We’re proud to be growing truly sustainable pumpkins, cultivated on our very own land, using the muck from our resident giants.

"They are lovingly harvested by hand and transported just a few hundred metres to our farm shop, where they are made available to our local community. This sustainable annual tradition fits very well with our core values.”

2023 marks the fifth consecutive year of pumpkin farming at the zoo farm, which is also a registered charity.

The aim of the organisation is to educate the public on wildlife from across the globe, as well as help with conservation efforts of endangered species.

The pumpkins can be purchased from the zoo's farm shop.

Visitors can also get into the autumnal mood at Pumpkinfest, which started yesterday (October 9) and runs until November 5.

Speaking before the event, a spokesperson from Noah's Ark Zoo Farm said: "Join us in a celebration of all things orange!

"Pumpkinfest will be filled with family fun including a pumpkin patch, a myth-busting trail, and oodles of seasonal photo opportunities!"

For more stories from Jill Dando News click: http://www.goodnewspost.co.uk

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