Yes, we are not the only smart asses in this world. There are others too, big ones actually. Remember those elephants that could paint? Nothing THAT special, right, about some pachyderms splashing paint on a sheet of paper. Well, one of those elephants has managed to paint its own portrait and here’s the proof:

Now I’m thinking, since that’s a self portrait, the elephant must have the ability to recognize himself, that is to create an image about himself, that is to have self-image, an ability only humans, dolphins and some of the apes have. Pretty amazing, huh? Besides, if you take a look at the technique and the exactness of his painting, take into account that a lot of human beings, adults, are not able to paint that way and we have hands and fingers, you remember that! Anyway, I am truly amazed at what these animals can do!

Question is: can this be taught? Meaning could the elephant have been taught how to draw that? Maybe, but I doubt that. However, to think that an elephant has the power to suggest happiness, beauty and youth through this painting is hard to apprehend by the human mind. The elephant in the painting is caught in movement, its direction is upper-right, that’s the direction of evolution, its posture is straight, eyes up as well, and he hold a flower in its…well…”hand”? Then again, elephants have good memory and I wouldn’t like to think it done this thing over and over again until it learnt how to do it but this may be a plausible answer. What do you think? I think either way, it is amazing.