An 8,000-pound elephant named Anna places her foot on a huge pumpkin as if to test its strength. The pumpkin bulges slightly. Then, she bears down and the pumpkin explodes with a satisfying crunch. Her audience at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore screams and cheers.
"It feels very celebratory when the pumpkin pops," zoo spokeswoman Jane Ballentine said. "It really is a celebration of their power."
Visitors to the zoo can see the annual Elephant Pumpkin Smash for themselves on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27 through 29.