厉害了，大象居然画画也这么棒！

It's well-known that elephants are intelligent and graceful creatures-but these animals have taken that reputation a step further by becoming professional painters.

众所周知，大象是聪明又优雅的动物，它们已经向成为专业画家迈出了很大一步。

The group of seven Asian elephants hold specially-designed brushed in their trunks, which they use to create beautiful floral scenes.

这七只亚洲大象用鼻子拿着特别设计的画笔，创造美丽的花卉图。

And the clever mammals, who live in Thailand have even developed a skill that humans can't match - the ability to suck up paint in their trunks to spray it over a canvas like an aerosol can.

这些生活在泰国的智慧型哺乳动物甚至get了一种人类不能匹敌的技能——用鼻子吸取颜料，并像油漆喷雾一样将其喷洒。

Artist at work: An Asian elephant puts his trunk into it as he works on a huge canvas

工作中的“艺术家”：亚洲大象用鼻子在大画布上绘画

Art attack: This elephant, with the help of his minder, takes aim at a canvas at Maesa Elephant Camp in Thailand
“艺术性攻击”：在看护者的帮助下，这只大象瞄准了泰国马沙大象营的画布

For slightly less precise images, the elephants can also use their huge feet - which they dip in paint then use to daub large canvasses on the floor.
对于那些无需太过精准的画作，大象也会将脚浸在颜料中，然后涂抹地板上的大画布。

The amazing fruits of their labour are then sold on by the sanctuary - for as much as £1,300 each - and the money used to support the Maesa Elephant Camp, where the seven live.

它们令人惊叹的画作后被保护区售出——每幅都高达1300英镑，且都用于支持它们所生活的马沙大象营。

Teaching elephants to paint was a technique pioneer at Maesa, and is now used in several other sanctuaries to help raise money for the animals.

教大象绘画是马沙的首创，现在其他保护区也用来帮助养活动物。

Art teacher: The elephants are guided in their work by trainers, who can direct their trunks by rubbing their ears

艺术老师：大象由教练指导，教练通过摩擦耳朵来指导他们的鼻子

The most sophisticated elephant artists - who were trained by a Chinese painter nine years ago - are now skilled enough to paint realistic-looking bunches of flowers, rather than the more impressionistic work favour by the others.

最有经验的大象艺术家——九年前由中国画家训练，现在已经熟练掌握了绘画栩栩如生的花束，而不是那些让他人印象深刻的工作。

When creating the works, the elephants are guided by a trainer, who gives them instructions by rubbing their ears in a particular way.

在创作画作时，大象由教练指导，教练通过摩擦耳朵这种特定的方式给他们指示。

The elephants use a special non-toxic paint, and adapted paint brushes that make it comfortable for them to hold with their trunks.

大象使用一种特殊的无毒颜料，以及鼻子可以舒适“握着”的画笔。

The paintings mostly feature primary colours, as elephants' ability to distinguish between different shades is limited.

因为大象区分不同色调的能力有限，所以这些画的特色是原色。

Landscape: THe elephants at Maesa Elephant Camp, in Thailand, have been painting for 13 years
风景：泰国马沙大象营的大象们已有13年的绘画经验

‘Perfect tool': Elephants' trunks have been described as an ideal implement for painting

“完美工具”：大象的鼻子被称为绘画的理想工具
The elephants at work were captured French photographer Olivier Blaise.

法国摄影师Olivier Blaise拍摄了工作中的大象。

Mr Blaise, 48, said: 'The agility and sensitivity of an elephant's trunk means that it's a perfect tool for painting. The gesture is both sweeping and very precise!'

48岁的Blaise先生说：“大象鼻子的敏感度和灵敏性让它成为一个完美的绘画工具。这一“手势”既涉及全面又十分精确！

‘The trunk is also used like an aerosol spray, as the paint is diluted with water it is a fun and natural way for the elephants to paint.'

“它们的鼻子也能像油漆喷雾一样使用。因为颜料已用水稀释，所以对于大象绘画来说，这是一种有趣和自然的方式。”

The paintings, which are around 120cm in width, and vary in length, are sold on site at Maesa and also in auctions, with typical prices ranges from £205 to £1,300.

这些画作，宽约120厘米，长度不一，在马沙现场出售或拍卖，价格为205英镑到1300英镑不等。
 

看过之后，是不是对大象的喜爱又多了一层呢？