Bud, Mickey, Toby, and Max might be elephants, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate avant-garde abstraction. During the winter, the elephants at Grant’s Farm learn new skills, exercise, and artistic hobbies—including painting.
On August 12, visitors to Grant’s Farm will be able to purchase paintings crafted by the farm’s four elephants as part of World Elephant Day.
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Bud and Mickey, both 32 years old, were born in Namibia and came to Grant’s Farm in the 1980s from an elephant orphanage in Africa. Toby, age 36, was born in Zimbabwe, but came to Grant’s Farm from an elephant sanctuary in Arkansas. Max, age 13, is the youngest member of the herd and also came from Arkansas.
During World Elephant Day. visitors can learn about the elephants and how to help protect elephants. “Visitors will learn unique facts about elephants, the ivory crisis, as well as how they can help protect them from right here in St. Louis,” says Jenny Joyce, animal curator and elephant manager at Grant’s Farm. Visitors can chat with the farm’s trainers and participate in elephant-themed arts and crafts. One of Grant’s Farm’s Clydesdales will drop by to visit the kids from 10 to 11 a.m.
The farm will also host a social-media photo contest. To enter, post a photo of a Grant’s Farm elephant with the hashtag #WorldElephantDay and #GrantsFarm. The winner, who will be randomly selected on August 15, will receive a chance to hang out with Bud.
Admission is free, but parking is $12. There’s no charge to park bicycles if you choose to visit via Grant’s Trail.
The Saint Louis Zoo will also be hosting a series of elephant-themed activities on August 12. Visit the zoo’s website for more information.
Denise Bertacchi is a mom on a mission to find all things fun for kids to do in St. Louis. Read more at stlmotherhood.com, or follow her at @stlmotherhood on Twitter and Instagram.
