Elephants in a zoo near Tokyo are proving that artistic ability runs in the family. In this video, a mother and father elephant emulate the pleasure of artistic expression for their one-year-old baby. Reluctant at first to put brush to canvas, the elephant is soon making brush strokes with an impressionist's eye for color. Oh, the adaptable talent of the young.
Not everyone is wild about the elephant painting phenomenon, thinking it is cruelly forced upon the animals by some trainers as a way to attract crowds, and of course, money. Whether or not that's true, at least the elephants in this video are not forced to draw particular objects, but rather are given full creative license--followed by a refreshing hose down.
Photo: visopys.org
