Oakland Zoo animals show their artistic side for a cause

  • 2015-10-09
Animals at the Oakland Zoo recently used their artistic talents to raise money for a charity that helps their brethren in the wild.

Many of the residents of the facility got involved in the efforts, including giraffes, elephants, and lemurs. Even a cockroach did its part. With a little bit of help with their human zookeepers, they created works of art that were auctioned off the highest bidder on eBay.

The staff who worked with the animals used treats and other positive reinforcement to encourage them to paint. All told, 20 species produced 32 pieces of art. Some used bushes, while others had their feet dipped in water based, nontoxic paint before being released onto sheets of poster board.

According to a spokesperson for the zoo Nicky Mora, it was an enjoyable experience for the animals, as they got to have extra treats and none of them were forced to be involved. Last year’s auction saw 12 paintings sold, which resulted in almost $10,000 being collected. Copies of the paintings can be compiled into Calendars that can help to raise even more money for the cause. This will also provide more people with an opportunity to enjoy the art and learn more about the animals that crated it.

Money raised through the sale of the painting will be used to fund the zoo’s conservation programs that that are aimed at preserving populations of different species of animals in the wild.
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