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March 29, 2008
Elephants painting... wow.
This is really fascinating. Watch as an elephant paints a picture of an elephant. (Located in Maesa Elephant Camp, Chaing Mai, Thailand.)
Lots more elephant painting videos here too.
In the YouTube comments, someone claims the elephants are just trained to paint the same picture over and over again, and that this enterprise is exploitive to elephants. This painting here is very similar. The web site of the Elephant Artist Gallery is here. Check out the Gallery, and you will find many are similar, but some are quite varied. What do you think?
Posted by Snaggy at March 29, 2008 10:20 PM
Comments
Several years ago, we watched with wonder at a zoo in Tennessee as the elephants created some beautiful free form abstract paintings. They were not coached and,unlike this one, dipped their own paint brushes in which ever color they wanted next. They said that elephants are so intelligent that in captivity they need some cognitive stimulation to prevent them from getting bored and fall ill (depressed?). Painting is just one of the things they did. They sold the art to support the program so we got a chance to look through a bunch of them. It was quite varied in theme and tone. Some were bright and joyous, some were dark and calm, etc. I think I even recall being able to distinguish between the styles of the individual elephants. We still own one of the paintings and it is, IMHO, a beautiful painting.
Posted by: Bob at March 30, 2008 10:35 AM
The Elephant shape is very impressive! But the flower blows it all... I can't believe that is artist impression of the elephant itself. It's to much human thinking...
Posted by: Reginald at March 30, 2008 10:15 PM
For the people that complain about exploitation and such - keep in mind without these programs, the elephants would have to be put down.
Unlike the US and their circus elephants - these elephants used to work in the wilderness moving lumber. Since cutting lumber has been halted in Thailand (most of the business having moved to Burma and neighboring countries with less government restrictions) these elephants have since become unemployed.
Some Mahouts bring their elephants into the city to beg / sidewalk perform (at least until the cops chase them away), so outside of begging - these elephant sanctuaries are a much more humane option.
Consider the facts (and alternatives) before complaining - you PETA fanatics :-)
Posted by: Paul Makor at March 31, 2008 10:50 AM