Renee, The Toledo Zoo’s 29-year-old African elephant, has quite a flair for fancy brushwork. Her painting gives us a glimpse into the mind of this majestic animal and reminds us of the bond that we share with all animals.

Painting canvases like this one is not only inspiring for us, but it’s also a terrific source of enrichment for animals such as Renee. Enrichment refers to the many ways that caregivers give animals the opportunity to make choices, manipulate objects and use their senses over the course of the day. Toledo Zoo Elephant Manager Don RedFox was moved to incorporate painting into Renee’s enrichment activities in the early 1980s.

Over the years, Renee has painted dozens of canvases. When she’s painting, which happens a few times a year, she often feeds off the energy and reactions of the keepers and spectators. Renee has often been known to choose her own colors, but some of her paintings have been made to order. Either way, an elephant painting is a rare treasure, and it’s one that truly is to be cherished.