Pachyderm Picasso picks up paintbrush to prepare perfect pictures

Paintings from a Czech elephant are selling for up to $2,000 (1,590 euros) and are expected to go up in value, as she appears to have retired.

At the encouragement of her handlers, Shanti, a female elephant at the Prague Zoo took up painting last year.

Her handlers had seen other elephants do the same on TV and thought Shanti might have a creative streak too. She did.

Shanti has produced twelve paintings so far of which half sold at a gallery in Prague before she stopped.

If Shanti doesn't pick up the brush again soon, her prints have the potential of becoming limited release and could go up in value.

Prague Zoo intends to use the money raised so far selling Shanti's paintings to help an elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka.