Become a patron of the wild arts while bidding in Zoo New England’s Animal Art Auction! All of the artwork was created by the animal residents at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo. Featured artists include Little Joe, a western lowland gorilla, Fia, a red panda, Menelik, a Grevy’s zebra, and Chad and Amari, Masai giraffes. The Zoo’s newest artists, ostriches Wub and Julius, have their first featured masterpiece in the online auction as well.

Paintings are a regular enrichment activity for the animals, and are always done using non-toxic paint or food coloring and natural materials. Through specialized enrichment and training programs, the Zoo’s dedicated animal care team encourages animals to use their natural abilities and behaviors to interact with their environment. As with all training and enrichment activities, animal paintings are done voluntarily. 

While the painting results are beautiful and truly one-of-a-kind, the activity provides important opportunities for mental and physical stimulation. For Little Joe, a western lowland gorilla, his trademark painting style is finger painting, and he often enjoys raisins and peanuts as a special painting snack during this activity. Creative training sessions, like painting, elicit natural grabbing behaviors from Fia, a female red panda. Red pandas spend a considerable amount of time grabbing and holding bamboo – a main component of their diet. Fia holds the paintbrush similarly to how she holds bamboo, and enjoys treats including grapes, during her painting sessions. For Hutch, a Canada lynx, batting the paintbrush while the zookeeper holds the canvas is similar to how he bats around his other enrichment toys – one of his favorite activities.