We all know that scientific research has shown a monkey can indeed paint a picture, however animal art is unexpectedly rising to a new forefront. More and more, zoos are starting to supply their animals with paint and paper, calling such programs “enrichment.” From naked mole rats, to elephants and bears, every species is getting in on the action. And surprisingly, these programs are actually yielding delightful results.

While animals making art is fun, there is actually a scientific use for it as well. Zoologists analyze the animals and their paintings, beginning to delve into a deeper understanding of how each creature’s brain functions. Along with this process of gathering information, the scientists are also able to better analyze the decisions that these animals make, the motives behind them, and their overall general behavior patterns.

The program utilizes the animals’ natural functions to make art; one artist placed a vase-like structure in a bee colony, and the bees created honeycomb shaped like a vase. This is how most animal art-making techniques work; the person conducting the program or assisting in the art-making uses a trigger such as food to get the animal to decide on its own whether or not to make art. And the possibilities go on forever.

As the art becomes more refined and new methods are experimented with, the products are getting better and better. And thus we start to realize that we may have underestimated the creatures that surround us. These animals we put in cages and parade around for our own entertainment, can actually be productive members of the art world and contribute to it something no one has seen before.