Elephants create art too

This is not fiction. Elephants produce paintings and show their artistic side. Elephant art was long considered a freak happening. The idea that elephants can paint is now gaining acceptance and interest.

Elephants paint because they enjoy it.

Anyone watching an elephant paint is stricken by the focus the elephant displays while creating its art. The elephants' caretakers (mahouts) who know them best - just like you know your pet - describe the mood of their elephant during painting as; smiling all of the time, eager to put color on the canvas, or even, appears genuinely inspired. Some elephants will happily paint at every opportunity, other elephants will only paint when they feel like it and no coaxing will make them touch the canvas when they don't.

Elephants enjoy painting because it relieves boredom & stress.

All animals need to be active, elephants do too. Painting seems to have an effect on their behaviour and well-being. Says a caretaker about his painting elephant: ‘she was always shy and withdrawn and now she's much more outgoing, energetic, she's very inquisitive'. Part of the enjoyment of painting for the elephants is that they paint however they choose, and they produce painting styles comparable to some renowned human artists.

Elephants who paint are emotional beings.

Elephants also like creating art because they receive verbal praise which reinforces their behavior, like the way your pet reacts to you when he does something good. Elephants are deeply aware of social relationships and love when they hit the target. Well-treated animals want to please and be appreciated, not unlike humans...

An important reason for elephants to paint is survival. Following logging restrictions, elephants previously used in the timber industry were left unemployed and reduced to begging on the streets to survive. They could no longer earn their keep, were frequently abandoned, mistreated, starved, and many died of neglect. These elephants could not go back to the forest because deforestation left little natural habitat for them to return to. Thailand has found another role for its elephants, protect its forests, and by the same token, create a national income. So, using the elephants' ability to paint as a new enjoyable way to survive offers a great alternative to begging and starving. They may not know it but the elephant art they create for the pleasure is what pays for their care.

Here is a controversial video from National Geographic Wild Chronicles. It concludes that for elephants to work in the logging industry is their way to survive.

There is more info about illegal logging on YouTube.

I hope I added another facet to the elephant's image. Always glad to read your comments.