This summer has seen record-breaking heat waves. Many nights the temperature remains high, and African Bush Elephant at Tama Zoo seem to be struggling to recover from their day's fatigue. When the elephants go out into their enclosure in the morning, they often prefer a bath rather than a meal in the strong sunlight.

Normally, the elephants are given chilled oranges as a snack, but as a summer tradition, we give them chilled watermelon on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays in July and August (starting July 19th this year). We've hung a sign made of bamboo blinds that says "Chilled Watermelon for African Bush Elephant Now Available" in the viewing walkway between the first and second enclosures to let people know, but have you noticed it?

Each elephant is given three to four watermelons, and animal keeper roll them one by one to the elephants. However, rolling the watermelons without breaking them all the way to a place where visitors can see them is surprisingly not easy.

The enclosure is covered with volcanic gravel, so if you roll the watermelon too fast, it will burst open. Also, the elephants, who have been eagerly waiting, quickly extend their long trunks to stop the rolling watermelon.

"Today I managed to roll it to a satisfactory spot," "Cheeky's excellent goalkeeping blocked it," "I rolled it too boldly and it broke," and so on—animal keeper learn the tricks to rolling it by reflecting on their mistakes each time.

Please come and observe how the elephants eat whole watermelons. The purchase of the watermelons is funded by donations from the "Zoo Supporter Program."

[Tama Zoo North Garden Animal Care and Exhibition Staff, Michiyuki Nakao]

(August 20, 2010)