Elephant Art?

[antihippy]

This has been all over the news tonight. What do we all think?

Are Elephants aware enough to produce 'art'? Does it count as art if it's not painted by a human?

I am sceptical. I think these articles smack of anthropormorphism and I would liek to see some evidence that these elephants are actually painting. The cynic in me also wants proof that there isn't someone somewhere producing this stuff and palming it off on the art community.

Does anyone know anything?

 

[roger]

I could believe an elephant could be trained to draw several shapes, and to color them in. Among them, an elephant shape.

Now, when an elephant creates a *new* recognizable shape, say of a tree nearby, or a guy leaning against a bicycle, after seeing same, then I'll think there is something to it.