The Collaborators -
Who Are They?
Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
Albert Einstein
As the youngest son of the Oregon Zoo's most prestigious pachyderms, Packy and Rosy, Rama was destined for fame.  Born April 1, 1983, Rama inherited an endearing and friendly personality from Rosy.  Of the three bulls at the zoo, Rama remains the smallest, weighing roughly 9,000 pounds.
Rama began painting as a form of enrichment and showed remarkable interest in the activity, leading to his career as Oregon's "biggest" artist.  Highly intelligent, Rama has learned how to paint using his trunk and brushes.  The idea was born from a routine health test.  Elephants are susceptible to tuberculosis and need to be tested routinely for the disease.  To administer the test, a
The most important thing we can do
is realize that  everything we do matters.

Jane Goodall,  Reason for Hope
keeper puts a sterile solution into his trunk and has him hold it for a few moments, then spray into a sterile collection bag for the lab.  This is initially how Rama learned the technique.  Rama however, liked this game and began following keepers around, continuing to blow air out his trunk.  Minds began turning, and after careful thought, Jeb introduced nontoxic paint into his trunk.
When the paint is loaded into Rama's trunk, Rama takes a breath and blasts the paint onto the canvas.  Once Rama had mastered spray painting, it was time to try working with a brush.  Rama reaches out with his trunk, as Jeb, his trainer, loads a brush with paint.  When Jeb signals Rama to shake his head, "Shake it up, Rama!", Rama brushes the paint on the canvas.  Brushing is a way to involve his strong trunk muscles and give Rama creative freedom.  Sometimes he misses the canvas and adjusts; at other times his alternatively straight or fluid or circular.  As Rama brushes, his ears come out and he shakes his head.  The keepers believe he is showing his interest and excitement.  They believe Rama looks forward to painting.  When finished, he hands the brush back to Jeb.
Together, with the love and caring of the staff, fine art is created every time he works.  Rama can walk away at any time and choose not to paint.  He freely chooses to participate.  Rama is truly an amazing elephant.
RAMA