The Houston Zoo offers a unique and engaging activity where various animals create paintings with the assistance of their keepers. This enrichment activity not only provides entertainment for visitors but also helps strengthen the bond between the animals and their caretakers.
Types of Art at the Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo features a diverse range of animal artists, each with their own unique style:
- Sea Lions: Using modified paintbrushes held in their mouths, sea lions create vibrant paintings by swiping paint across the canvas. This activity helps them practice holding dental tools and toothbrushes in their mouths, making dental care easier.
- Elephants: Asian elephants paint by gently pressing their noses to the canvas, leaving heart-shaped kisses. This activity fosters meaningful relationships between the elephants and their caretakers.
- Gorillas: Gorillas like Mike and Chaka use paintbrushes to create distinctive circular wisps and bold strokes on the canvas, showcasing their individual styles.
- Goats: Goats paint by moving modified paintbrushes back and forth across the canvas, creating colorful streaks and patterns.
- Cheetahs: Dash and Dinari, the cheetah brothers, walk through non-toxic paint to create dynamic paintings with their paws and occasional tail swipes.
- Rainbo-Eclectus Parrot: Rainbo uses a paintbrush held in his beak to create deliberate streaks of paint on the canvas, often critically evaluating his work before adding more paint.
- Cougar: Shasta, the cougar, creates dynamic paintings with paw prints, swirls, and movement, reflecting his trust in his caretakers.
- Okapi: Kwame, the okapi, participates in painting by gently rubbing his face and sometimes tongue in the paint on the canvas, creating beautiful swirls of color.
Availability and Pricing of Houston Zoo Paintings
These unique animal paintings are available for purchase on the Houston Zoo website, with prices ranging from $50 to $250. Each painting includes an unmatted flat canvas, a photo of the animal artist, and a short biography. Shipping and handling costs are covered for domestic orders.
Conservation Efforts Supported by Houston Zoo Paintings
By purchasing these paintings, visitors support conservation efforts around the world. The Houston Zoo, celebrating its 100th year, relies on the continued support of its guests to further its conservation goals.
Enrichment and Bonding Through Animal Painting
The animal painting activity at the Houston Zoo serves as an enrichment program, providing mental and physical stimulation for the animals. It also helps strengthen the bond between the animals and their caretakers, as the keepers work closely with the animals to facilitate the painting process.
Unique Experiences for Visitors
Witnessing the animals create their masterpieces is a truly captivating experience for visitors. Guests can observe the animals’ natural behaviors and creativity, gaining a deeper appreciation for the animals and their individual personalities.
Educational Opportunities
The animal painting program at the Houston Zoo offers educational opportunities for visitors, particularly for children. Guests can learn about the animals’ natural behaviors, the importance of enrichment activities, and the role of zoos in conservation efforts.
Preserving the Legacy of the Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo, celebrating its 100th year, has a rich history of providing exceptional experiences for visitors and contributing to conservation efforts. The animal painting program is just one of the many ways the zoo is engaging with its community and preserving its legacy.
Conclusion
The Houston Zoo’s animal painting program is a unique and captivating experience that allows visitors to witness the creativity and personalities of the zoo’s animal residents. By purchasing these one-of-a-kind paintings, visitors can support the zoo’s conservation efforts and take home a piece of the Houston Zoo’s legacy.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIDkuH9Y4YA
- https://tickets.houstonzoo.org/webstore/shop/viewitems.aspx?CG=ED&C=ART&EventID=60171&PLU1=ART10036242&QTY1=1
- https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/05/02/artwork-painted-by-houston-zoo-animals-for-sale-online/
- https://houstonzoo.kudos.nyc/make-memories/animal-art/
- https://www.houstonzoo.org/make-memories/