Juicy news: Zoo celebrates Watermelon Day

Fresh melons provide fun and enrichment for animals big and small

Jozi, a member of the zoo’s rhino family, is especially known for her unique watermelon-squishing skills. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy of Oregon Zoo.

Best squishes! August 3 was National Watermelon Day, and the animals at the Oregon Zoo are enjoying the day in crunchy style. From elephants to orangutans, a variety of zoo residents joined in on the fun with a fresh watermelon feast.

The watermelons aren’t just a tasty treat. Seasonal food items are a key part of the Oregon Zoo’s renowned environmental enrichment efforts: providing stimulating and challenging environments, objects and activities to promote animal well-being.

Though all the animals that received watermelons seemed to enjoy them, the eastern black rhinoceros family is especially known for their melon-balling skills. (The zoo’s most-watched TikTok video depicts rhino King squishing and eating a watermelon.)

I love that King is a smoosher and Jozi is an impaler,” said Chad Harmon, who oversees the zoo’s Africa area. “Two totally different techniques that work.”

As part of Metro, the Oregon Zoo helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Committed to conservation, the zoo acts globally on behalf of species from pikas to polar bears. Over the past 30 years, it has prevented extinctions, expanded populations, advanced conservation science, and formed powerful communities to protect wildlife in the Northwest and around the world. To plan your trip, go to oregonzoo.org/visit.

Support from the Oregon Zoo Foundation enhances and expands the zoo’s efforts in species recovery, conservation education and animal well-being. Members, donors and corporate and foundation partners help the zoo make a difference across the region and around the world. To contribute, go to oregonzoo.org/give.