Ele-onardo Da Vinci: Painting Elephant Sells Masterpieces
By Amanda Stringfellow @amanda_l_s
Scroll down for the full story
Videographer / Director: David Whitehill
Producer: Mark Hodge, Nick Johnson
Editor: Joshua Douglas
The 58-year-old Asian elephant called Tricia puts paint to canvas as part of her keeper’s efforts to keep her mentally and physically stimulated.
The 3.6 tonne gentle giant either uses a brush fitted with a special handle or blows the paint out of her trunk on to the canvas to create her masterpieces.
Perth Zoo claim that elephants are natural artists and are known to draw in the dirt with sticks in the wild.
The paints used are water and vegetable-based and are non-toxic.
The playful animal also enjoys gardening and playing football with her fellow Asian elephants.
Tricia is fast becoming a successful artist with her masterpieces available to buy from 45AUD with her larger pieces costing over 1000AUD.
One hundred percent of the money raised from her sales goes to protect threatened species in the wild.
TV and Wildlife Presenter, David Whitehill, 39, spent the day with the matriarchal elephant to observe her unusual talent.
David said: “Each morning she and her friend Permai get to take a walk around the zoo grounds before it opens and do some gardening. They then enjoy painting and playing football.
“The elephants are very loving and like the attention of the keepers and the public.
“Spending time with Tricia was incredible. She is such a calm and loveable elephant and the moments painting with her were amazing.
“Just being in her presence was quite comforting and I could really see her strong personality shine through the more time I spent with her.”