Buffalo Zoo animal artists use painting as enrichment

Purchase your Art Gone Wild tickets here.

Artists come in all forms, and that couldn’t be exemplified more at the Buffalo Zoo.

A number of our animals use painting as a form of enrichment due to its mentally and physically stimulating qualities. The results are often colorful, abstract masterpieces that come from a source you wouldn’t necessarily expect.

The paintings are created using non-toxic paint, with animals using their paws, noses, bellies, hooves, fingers or in some cases brushes on a blank canvas. Oftentimes, multiple colors are utilized during the artistic process to create some variety in the work.

Some of our Buffalo Zoo animals who paint include our gorillas, otters, lizards, giraffes and plenty more.

Just like any enrichment, painting is voluntary for the animals, and it is an occasional treat and not part of their daily routines.

Now, our Buffalo Zoo community will have a chance to take home some of these incredible animal art pieces at our upcoming Art Gone Wild event on Saturday, July 26th!

The event celebrates our love of animals through art, with art vendors, hands-on activities, auctions and so much more taking place.

Not only that, but attendees will get to witness local artists combine their skills with our animals artists! During a live display, artists will collaborate on a work created by our animals, turning it into an extra special piece that will be available for purchase.

Art Gone Wild runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m., and all funds raised from this special event support the Buffalo Zoo. Be sure to get your tickets here.