The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hosting an online animal art auction so you can support the zoo while decorating your home with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece from your favorite wild mammal.
The auction continues through July 14, and offers works made by a wide variety of the zoo’s artistically inclined animals including rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, meerkats and even our beloved Fiona the hippo.
“Painting is an enrichment activity that some animals enjoy. It’s always voluntary and the paint that we use is non-toxic, so it’s safe for them,” said Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard in a press release. “Mai Thai the elephant has been painting for years, and she’s pretty good!”
The funds raised by the auction will go toward the feeding and care of the zoo animals.
“Support from fundraisers is critical to the Zoo as it tries to recover from three months of being closed,” the press release says.
There are 13 paintings available to bid on on the website, most with photos of the animals while creating the work, or standing next to their artwork looking rather proud.
Currently, most painting’s top bids are in the $300 range, however both works involving Fiona are, unsurprisingly, much higher than the rest. Fiona’s pink snoot print “Fiona the Hippo Kiss Painting” is going for $1,100 and the “Double Kiss by Fiona and Bibi” has a current top bid of $660.
For more info, visit the cincinnatizoo.org.
This article appears in The Summer Guide.