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WEEKLY NEWS 2: Elephant Artist Raises Money

A native of Sri Lanka--now living in Louisiana--named Bozie is doing her part to help her homeland. Bozie is a 29-year-old Asian elephant and a resident of the Baton Rouge Zoo. She has taken a paintbrush into her trunk in an effort to raise money for tsunami victims.

Zoo officials claim that Bozie has painted periodically as a way of keeping her mind active, but her paintings have never before been put up for sale. Teri Cangelosi, the zoo’s marketing development director, said, "Our thinking was, here’s an animal that can help the country where she’s from."

One of Bozie’s recent creations, done in non-toxic, water-based paints, was placed on eBay Tuesday of this week. Proceeds from its sale will go to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. "It’s going to go toward food, sanitation, and prevention measures," said Kendall Hebert, public relations manager for the local chapter of the Red Cross.

Many of Bozie’s fellow pachyderms have been used by Sri Lankan officials to clear the tons of debris and wreckage left by last month’s tsunami. It’s entirely possible that if Bozie had stayed in her homeland, she would also be part of the cleanup. She was born in Sri Lanka in 1975, and has been at the Baton Rouge Zoo since 1997.

Like many artists, Bozie can be a bit temperamental at times. When given her paintbrush and other supplies during the Tuesday session, she snapped the brush in half. Dipping her trunk into the paint, she created an abstract work.

Bidding will remain open on the painting until noon, Monday, January 24. To check its progress, go to eBay.com, look under "art," and search for "Baton Rouge Zoo Elephant Painting." (contributing: theadvocate.com)

--Written by Patricia Daniels

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