Elephant Artist

We think this story is interesting because Ruby, the artist, is an elephant! an Asian elephant, to be exact. She is 17 years old. She lives at the zoo in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ruby has produced almost 100 paintings in the last year. She has earned more than 40,000 dollars for the zoo.

Zoo officials say Ruby first showed a talent for art about years ago. Zoo workers wathed her make marks in the sand with her trunk. She rubbed out the marks, then made new ones. The zoo workers gave her brushes and paints. Soon, Ruby was painting pictures.

Ruby's work earn money to help the zoo and help save threatened animals. Zoo officials say they don not force Ruby to paint. They believe she paints because it is fun.