Buffalo Elephant: Painting Masterpieces for Food

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Buffalo Elephant: Painting Masterpieces for Food

The abstract paintings of Surapa, a 4 1/2 ton Asian elephant at the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo, NY, are being sold in the zoo's gift shop. More than sixty have been purchased by visitors for $25 each. According to a UPI report, Surapa's keeper, Daryl Hoffman, taught the zoo's three elephants to paint as a winter afternoon pastime. "Since the elephants were used to eating anything handed to them, they ate the first brushes, but they soon caught on that if they applied the paint to canvas, they would get fruit."

Surapa's mastery of her palette soon outpaced her companions. Her works have been compared to human-produced abstracts in a downtown gallery. [01/11/1998]

Surapa, Painting Elephant

Address:: 300 Parkside Ave., Buffalo, NY
Directions:: I-90 to exit 51 (Rte 33 W). North to exit for Hwy 198. Take 198 then right on Parkside Ave. At the second light turn left onto Jewitt Pky. The zoo parking lot is on the right.Parkside. At 2nd light make left onto Jewitt Parkway, zoo parking lot on right.
Hours:: Daily 10-5 (July-August), 10-4 (off-season) (Call to verify)
Phone:: 716-837-3900

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