Bedfordshire, UK. 19th September 2012. Elephant artist picks up a paintbrush for Elephant Appreciation Weekend ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s pachyderm Picasso is preparing to pick up a paintbrush and show off her artistic talents ahead of Elephant Appreciation Weekend, Elephantasia. Fourteen-year-old Asian elephant Karishma will be using her trunk to decorate wooden elephants with colourful splashes of paint in the run up to the weekend – which will be raising vital funds for the Zoo’s worldwide elephant conservation and research projects. Elephant keeper Elizabeth Becker said: “Karishma r
Elephant artist picks up a paintbrush for Elephant Appreciation Weekend ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s pachyderm Picasso is preparing to pick up a paintbrush and show off her artistic talents ahead of Elephant Appreciation Weekend, Elephantasia. Fourteen-year-old Asian elephant Karishma will be using her trunk to decorate wooden elephants with colourful splashes of paint in the run up to the weekend – which will be raising vital funds for the Zoo’s worldwide elephant conservation and research projects. Elephant keeper Elizabeth Becker said: “Karishma really enjoys painting, and she’s very talented at it. It demonstrates just how dexterous elephant’s trunks really are and we think the end results are pretty amazing, if a little abstract!” Karishma’s works of art will be on display at the Zoo during Elephant Appreciation Weekend on September 22 and 23, alongside nine wooden elephants which have been created and decorated by students from Central Bedforshire College to represent each of Whipsnade’s nine elephants. Working in partnership with newly formed tourism partnership Experience Bedfordshire and Luton Bury-park Business Community the wooden elephants are being placed in prominent locations around Luton before heading to the Zoo in time for the jumbo celebrations. ViViane Vayssieres, chief executive officer, of Experience Bedfordshire, said: “We have some wonderful activities in Bedfordshire and the Zoo is one of our most visited attractions. During the two days there will also be Asian dancers and musicians and many delicious exotic things to sample and experience, it will put Bedfordshire on the map for its creative diversity.” College Assistant Principal, Shahin Khan, said, “This is a fantastic initiative for the community and the College is proud to be a key part of it.” Journalists, photographers and film crews are invited to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to see Karishma painting in the paddock at There will also be the opportunity to interview
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Keywords: animal, animals, appreciation, art, asian, elephant, funny, karishma, keeper, paint, painting, picasso, weekend, zoo
