Genuine Elephant Paintings - The Story of Suda The Painting Elephant

[@Vasvatrueskin]

I love you Suda!💕❤️‍🩹❤️♥️🤗🌺😘🥰

[@ThaiAussies]

She is quite a lovely a d intelligent creature.

[@fazzadielle]

I don't think most people understand how significant this is for us, as humans

[@angieando3376]

Suda is a beautiful soul in an elephant’s body.. I am thrilled that the two paintings that I bought of hers have helped with elephant care and rehabilitation...

[@apartmentflyeraircraft8812]

I am finding it hard to believe that it's true 😢 Please can I see the paintings that you bought of her😢😢❤❤❤

[@gdragonstan]

I have never seen anything so phenomenal before. How on earth does this giant creature have an eye for detail.❤

[@ThaiAussies]

Hi. In answer to your question. Suda is prompted by her mahout. Suda understands the mahout's prompts and gestures to use the brush in a certain way such as up/down, left/right, dabs, squiggles etc. It's a team effort.

[@Karategirl3BB]

YAAAAAAS!! I Love this! Yes I Believe that Elephants can paint! They are very intelligent, beautiful and majestic creatures! SUDA is AMAZING ❤.

[@ThaiAussies]

With the help of her mahout she can do some exceptional work.

[@Glory2Jesus]

I watched another Suda video. She often showed she was enjoying painting by making the bell on her collar ring. I love Suda and am glad she is in a good place.

[@whirledpeas1182]

Born Free explains that it is a “myth” that the elephant’s ability to paint is a result of their natural cleverness. Rather, directly refuting Maesa’s story about how their elephants learned to paint, “Elephants endure months of physical abuse to learn how to hold a paint brush, draw a straight line and paint flowers and leaves on trees.” Like elephants used in the elephant trekking industry, young elephants used for painting must be broken and experience the pain of the phajaan process. Over this time baby elephants are starved, shackled, and beaten, until their spirit is completely broken and will submit to the will of their captors. Once young elephants have undergone this process they can begin learning to paint Elephants use special brushes to create their “masterpieces.” These brushes are inserted straight into the trunk and have a dividing bar that rests at the very end of the truck to keep the brush from falling all the way up the elephant’s nose. The paint brushes are inserted into the elephant’s nose and the elephant learns to grip around the top of the brush. The elephant’s trunk is incredibly sensitive and full of nerve endings. In the wild elephants will avoid acacia trees because these trees house ants that might crawl into the elephants trunk and bite. While the paint brush might not bite … we can’t imagine it is a comfortable experience. During a painting performance, the elephant’s mahout stands diligently at the elephants side, poised with bull hooks. Bull hooks or the more discrete method, a nail that can be hidden in the mahout’s hand, is shoved into the soft tissue of the elephants ear. To train the elephant to move the brush to create stroke patterns that we recognize as flowers, trees, or even an elephant, the mahouts use these painful prods to guide the elephant’s movements. Further if an elephant paints incorrectly, they are beaten, either with a bull hook, or physically hit on their head or trunk. When this skill is mastered, the elephant will be expected to recreate the same pattern every single day, sometimes twice or even three times. Naturalist, Desmond Morris bore witness to an elephant painting show in Thailand, looking to discern whether elephants could really create paintings at their own will, based on their individual creative talents. From his observation, the mahout kept a tight grip on the elephants ear for the entire performance, tugging either right or left to manipulate the elephant into making a certain brush stroke.

[@lynnrussell467]

This account above sounds so sad and abusive! Humans could inherently honor and appreciate the beauty and grace of elephants as the magnificent beings they are! Rather than forcing them into servitude by painful dominance....humans really ARE built to LOVE! Why don't we just open ourselves and allow love to flow in and out? God bless the elephants, and the humans still learning to love!

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Thank you for posting this. I keep trying to explain all of this to people, but the sad truth is that most seem not to care - as long as they are being amused for a few minutes, they couldn’t care less that the animals in these videos are being abused. I can’t fathom being so heartless and inhumane. We need more people like you, who actually care about the wellbeing of these amazing creatures. Everyone who has been informed of what really goes on, yet continues to defend and promote this practice, should be ashamed.

[@essexchillis2980]

@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 the owners of these videos do their level best to hide the truth, I've been trying to raise awareness on this issue for years, it is very difficult. I don't think it's because people don't care, I think it's because they simply don't know and as much as we try to tell people, the people who profit from this sick trick are working over time to hide our comments or distract from them. Please keep banging on those doors though! Don't give up. Much love and respect. X

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

essex chillis Thanks, I will! I have had some people read my comments, and then defend the owners of this channel...though it’s often because the owners have butted into the conversation and lied about the reality of this situation. Nevertheless, if someone told me that animals were being tortured, I would do my utmost to discover the truth of the situation. I certainly wouldn’t dismiss their claims, in favour of believing the person who is profiting from, and promoting the torture. I think a lot of people do care, but many simply don’t, or refuse to accept it - and that’s the sad truth. I think the only way to get these people to care is by making sure more people do. When most people start to care, the people who aren’t as humane will follow the status quo, and do the same. Until then, we need to work on enlightening the people who care about animals, but simply don’t know better. Anyway, we really need more people like you and the OP. I can’t thank you enough for caring and trying to help these elephants. Thank you for informing people about their terrible plight. ❤️

[@whirledpeas1182]

Chris Moeller certainly worth fighting for... perhaps factory farming would be a better place to start

[@freerangebutters3758]

You should let her free draw and see what kind of creative pursuits she has on her mind - watch her very carefully and attend to any needs that she needs help with

[@christinabenson5591]

yeah, that's what I was wondering...what would she paint without being coached, would it be recognizable? the abstractions necessary for her to realize that she's making symbolic representations of a tree and the backsides of two elephants I'm not sure are there...like, does it look like random brushstrokes to her, or does she get it?...

[@caitthecat]

@@christinabenson5591 Elephant vision isn't so wildly different than ours. There's a very good chance that Suda realizes what she's painting.

[@Ambidextroid]

Christina Benson No, I'm pretty certain she has no idea. She can distinguish the different details on the canvas as abstract shapes but not understand the relevance to real objects like us. If it was to paint on its own it would probably not be motivated to paint anything. She's following a sequence because she's conditioned to understand that she'll be rewarded at the end, and through that she might learn to enjoy performing the sequence itself, but she won't enjoy the "creative pursuit" of painting and art that we do. It's likely more akin to a child enjoying a seemingly monotonous toy or game.

[@douglasdonaldson2510]

@@Ambidextroid Do you not perform sequences for reward?

[@Ramnos]

The world is on a brink of another war, resource shortage is close, infidelity among the masses is rising (sticking to some religion or popular fad, rather then to pursuit humanities conquering of the Solar system), and you want for some high grade specialist to teach some mammal to draw...

[@kevingraham236]

For sure elephants can really paint! Suda has advanced her skills through loving-patient tutoring over years of study and through trial and error, the fact that she receives bananas and other fresh fruit is purely motivational in intent making her a paid professional water colour canvas artist. She really has a unique style all her own! I feel her work is extra-ordinary and worthy of any art gallery worldwide!

[@harveypost7799]

Let's not talk about two leg babies and young...

[@pjj9491]

why does this make me cry..

[@marceethanhostetler4369]

Suda is really a remarkable elephant. I watched Suda paint an elephant with the rose. Truly amazing. I love Suda.

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

I LOVE suda's sweet EYELASHES. 💕💞💝💟💓

[@laur1987hilt]

That’s better artwork than most people do! Holy crap this is amazing

[@ThaiAussies]

They are quite good. The elephants are assisted by their mahouts.

[@Luchofromperu]

Esto es absolutamente increíble, y grandioso. Estos animalitos disfrutan de lo que están haciendo. Se nota que siempre han disfrutado de lo que están haciendo, por eso les sale muy, pero muy bien. Hay inspiración. Hay entrega en lo que hacen, y el resultado final es realmente maravilloso, para ellos y para quienes lo apreciamos. Maravilloso!!!!!!!

[@hairbymichelleandbeautypar7199]

Soda is unbelievable 👌! What an remarkable soul.. Blessings.

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda is assisted by her mahout to paint. It is a team effort. Still amazing all the same.

[@k.7.l.m]

That's incredible!!! I wonder what Suda sees in front of her. Does she see what we see-An amazing art piece!!

[@ThaiAussies]

Nice piece of work between Suda and her mahout (trainer).

[@mrdawsonh]

Bananas and Sugar Cane.

[@Милаядевушка-ц3ы]

So beautiful.She painted herself and her mum.That brought the tears to my eyes...so emotional...people don't realize that everything in Universe have a soul.Suda is amazing. ❤️

[@Original-Jew]

Yah's creatures🕎🙏🏾❤️

[@milofromscorpio899]

Absolutely incredible. The nature is definitely stunning.

[@ThaiAussies]

It is. Isn't it.

[@elizabethannsmith5006]

That’s adorable!!!!! That elephant has serious talent!!!!

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda is a smart elephant.

[@Garbagegoose344]

I could see her waving her ears, I’m not sure but I think I heard somewhere that that means they’re enjoying their current situation. I could be completely wrong but if I’m not that’s a very wholesome detail to note

[@davec3651]

She's signaling "help me" in Morse code. XD It's a joke folks, I couldn't resist

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

This is a cruel practice. The elephants aren’t actually drawing because they want to, or painting what they see. Rather they are trained to draw these pictures, and injured when they don’t get them right. Their handlers use sticks with sharp metal points at the end, to cut behind their ears while they are painting. The brushes are very hard and painful for them to hold, and they are sometimes inserted into their trunks with sharp handles. The audience are usually unaware of what is really going on. Do not promote this practice, please. Elephants are extremely sensitive, emotional creatures. They cry when they are sad, and enjoy being free in big family groups. The elephants from these places are killed or abandoned when they have served their usefulness. There are some elephant sanctuaries that try to save elephants who have been tortured like this for our entertainment. Animals, and especially mammals, should not be tortured simply because it makes a good KZbin video.

[@befunkrn]

@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 My understanding is that the elephants are indeed trained to do these paintings but that they are trained with positive reinforcement of food treats & not tortured into doing this. How are you so very certain of everything you've said? Please explain the details of your experience in and around these elephant shows. Better yet how about some videos at this same elephant show (before or after hours) that prove your claim?

[@essexchillis2980]

@@befunkrn look up 'phajaan' also make some basic research into this topic, it is well documented. What Chris, above, has said, is quite right.

[@gh0st017]

katy scott I bet you’re mountains of ignorance to ignore the possibility of abuse and absentmindedly assume he’s “boring”.

[@ijustgottasay1281]

Regardless of the true story behind this (for which there are, of course, conflicting opinions on both sides), these magnificent animals are amazing creatures and deserve all our positive attention to maintain and protect them ... I hope that's something on which all sides can agree. 🐘

[@ThaiAussies]

Correct.

[@bangtanimosity8564]

I’m still wondering if what she’s painting has been previously taught to her and guided by a person, like if they told her where to put the brush strokes, or if she actually used creativity. This is still amazing regardless though, I love her ❤️

[@jessegro4]

New Horizon did you just link to the video we are already watching? Lol. Great explanation

[@anthonypuccetti8779]

There is a trainer next to the elephant. The elephant doesn't know what it is doing. Animals don't have rationality or consciousness.

[@kingkangiv1615]

@@anthonypuccetti8779 Consciousness, arguable for both sides, rationality however they most definitely have. Elephants revisit places where they know food has grown in the past at the times of year it would be ripe and if that food is not there that year, or if the food is out of reach for the members of the parade, they will not hang around unable to reason that the food will not come, instead they will either leave to a new location or rely on the help of another elephant not apart of the parade to reach food out of reach to the rest of the parade. Many animals are able to display reason and some display acts observable as consciousness, yet we can not prove the later and the former is something even machines can do.

[@rclrd1]

@@anthonypuccetti8779 "Animals don't have rationality or consciousness." What nonesense!

[@rclrd1]

She's probably reproducing a drawing originally done by a human, that she's memorised. Elephants have remarkable memories.

[@andrezgonzalez7717]

It's incredible Suda! Woooow!

[@mandob6422]

Man you can paint better than me! Amazing👏👌

[@ThaiAussies]

She does a pretty good painting with the assistance of her mahout.😀

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda does a pretty good painting with the help of her mahout. 😀

[@sky-et6md]

😭❤💕💙💞💛💘💚💞💗💜💓❤ This Is the more beautiful , pure thing I have Ever seeing🙏

[@nostromotrades]

This makes me excited sad and happy at the same time ..

[@ThaiAussies]

Why sad?

[@eugenesmells5373]

People discrediting Suda's painting coz she was guided by her mahout but really, I've tried practicing painting based on an example and I can't produce it well. She's doing great even if it's just a copy.

[@essexchillis2980]

The elephant is not painting. The mahout standing next to her head is using a spike, hook or nail, to pull, push or twist sensitive parts of her ear to move her trunk. This is acheived with years of brutal training following what is called 'the crush'. Look it up, the training practise is called 'phajaan' and is well documented animal torture. The brushes are inserted into her trunk with, sometimes restraining bars and spikes to hold them in place and the elephants bear the torture, appearing to paint, in fear if a beating. This is a cruel trick. Please do not support it. In effect the mahout makes the picture via torture and animal cruelty.

[@jerjes538]

@@essexchillis2980please post at least one link about it? I don't find anything about this torture in relation to the painting... is it all your imagination?

[@douglascrouse8793]

@@jerjes538 No, the imagination is yours, if you believe the elephants paint of their own free will.

[@jerjes538]

@@douglascrouse8793 calm down big boy, calm down. Wondering why you got so annoyed... does my comment touched something personal?

[@douglascrouse8793]

@@jerjes538 Idiotic question. There are many like you who are gullible enough to fall for anything. Put a video on youtube, and the mentally-challenged will fall for it.

[@tonyaoneal9937]

She is beautiful, and very talented , I cried when I saw this remarkable creature, truly 1 of God's creations

[@ThaiAussies]

Yes, she is a wonderful creation.

[@crash24420]

Of course she can paint too often we underestimate animals, I love elephants! So majestic and smart!!

[@ThaiAussies]

The elephant does the paintings with assistance from their mahouts. It's a combined creative work.

[@TopFurret]

This makes poaching even more heart breaking

[@Romans15.32]

Soooo sad. I feel the punishment for poaching should be severe. 😢😒

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

This is equally heartbreaking. All of these elephants are victims of severe abuse. This is not something that they do for fun, and it’s actually extremely painful for them to hold the brushes. Their handlers beat, starve, stab, and give them electric shocks to get them to comply. Handlers stand by with sharp tools while they paint, and cut them if they make a mistake. It looks cute until you know the reality of this situation. If you really care about elephants, you shouldn’t promote this practice.

[@sharlo3799]

Chris Moeller does that mean all elephants are abused? Your finding one source or like two, and this is what happens with humans, whatever they see first, they believe. Not all elephants are abused, yes it is horrible to those elephants that are abused cruelty but if you think for a second you would understand What if they just guide their trunks the way they want it to go, and then reward them after until they get the hang of it, they also probably feed them and care for them like pets like people would train a dog to do something, you can’t think of all the bad things that could be happening, think of the good things too So go Harrass the bad people and don’t make false accusations about things you THINK you understand, thank you

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

@@sharlo3799 You posted the same comment to me again? Well, I guess I'll just post the same replies to you. Wow. The Dunning-Kruger Effect strikes again! Your comment is such an obvious case of projection, illogicality, and hypocrisy, I don’t know how you can’t see it yourself. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? “does that mean all elephants are abused?” No, this does not mean that all elephants are abused. The ones in these videos are, though. “Your finding one source or like two, and this is what happens with humans, whatever they see first, they believe.” Haha, and this is where you start projecting! No, this is not what happens with humans. It’s obviously something that you do, however, and that’s why you think that everyone else does it, too. Do you know what a logical fallacy is? A logical fallacy is an innately illogical argument. Some arguments are SO illogical that they’ve even been given a name. This comment of yours is an AD HOMINEM fallacy. Instead of actually refuting any of my points, and providing a logical rebuttal, you have made a false, baseless claim about me, and how I’ve obtained the knowledge that I’ve divulged. You’ve done this, because doing this is easier than providing a logical response to the points that I’ve made. As a matter of fact, unlike yourself, I don’t simply believe whatever information I see first. If that were the case, I would think that the elephants in this video are happily painting. I was first introduced to elephant painting in exactly the same way that you are - I saw a video of elephants painting, and not knowing much about elephants, the place where they were painting, or the cruel practice itself, my initial reaction was a positive one. Nevertheless, I wanted to know more. I’ve spent my life volunteering at shelters and charities that help abused animals, so I’m wise enough to know that when animals (especially ones that are better off in nature) perform for humans, there is always a risk that abuse is involved…so I considered it a possibility. I also wanted to know more about the act of painting - if they enjoyed it, if they could tell what they were painting, and so on. I researched the topic, and, to my horror, discovered the horrendous abuse involved in this practice. From that day on, I have worked as an activist, helping raise awareness of this topic. I am very familiar with the places that engage in the abuse, and this place is one of them. So no, I have not simply seen one or two sources. I have seen dozens and dozens of reports, helped creatures that have been abused at places like this, and tried to raise awareness of these brutal places. The irony here is that you obviously haven’t even done the most cursory of research into either this facility, or this practice. If you had, you would know that the place where this is filmed is renowned for abusing their elephants. They have been exposed time and time again. There is even an elephant sanctuary nearby that helps save elephants like this who have been beaten, starved, tortured, abused, and then discarded when they are too old to serve their purpose. If you had bothered to look at even one or two sources, you would know that the act of painting is extremely painful for the elephants. Their trunks are not made to paint. It is extremely painful for them, and extremely hard for them to hold the brush. For this reason, the brush is inserted into their trunk using metal pokes. This is even more painful for the elephants, because the ends of their trunks are filled with nerve endings. So why do the elephants put up with it? They do it because they are terrified of their handlers. While they are painting (they do so all day long, without a break, painting the same pictures over and over again) the handler is standing by with a sharp metal poke. The handler holds the poke behind the elephant’s ear, and cuts the elephant every time that they do something wrong, and to guide the elephant. The audience is usually unaware of this, as they can’t see the poke behind the elephant’s ear. Of course, even without the poke, the elephants still obey their handlers. When they are young, they are separated from their mothers (which is extremely cruel…elephants are social creatures, and need their mothers when they are young). They are then starved, beaten, given electric shocks, and tortured, until they totally submit to their handlers. The handlers tell the public that they use “positive reinforcement” to get the elephants to obey, but this is a lie. The real abuse that goes on here has been exposed numerous times. Of course, even without all the information available about these places, and the torture that goes on here, anyone who knows anything about elephants can see that these elephants have been abused. These videos show all the signs of abuse and torture…if you know what to look out for. So yeah, I know a lot about this topic. You clearly don’t, however, and despite you falsely and baselessly accusing me of only having read one or two sources, you clearly haven’t even done that. Frankly, you should be ashamed - not just for your illogicality and hypocrisy, but also for your lack of ethics. If, when I first saw these videos, someone had told me that the elephants are being abused, I wouldn’t have defended the abusers, simply because I find it amusing! If anyone ever tells me that an animal is being abused, the first thing I’m going to do is research and verify their claims. If there’s even the slightest insinuation that someone is engaging in abuse, I won’t continue to support them until I’ve thoroughly researched them, and verified that they’re not abusing animals. But what have you done? You’ve been informed that this place is engaging in horrific abuse of these elephants, but instead of doing even the slightest research into this place, and despite the fact that you clearly know nothing about elephants, this place, or elephant painting, you have continued to support them. That tells me that you don’t care about the well-being of these elephants, or if they’re being tortured, as long as you’re being entertained. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED. “Not all elephants are abused, yes it is horrible to those elephants that are abused cruelty but if you think for a second you would understand” This is another logical fallacy. It’s called a STRAWMAN FALLACY. A straw man fallacy takes place when a person makes up something that the other person never said, and proceeds to respond to the made-up claim, instead of responding to the other person’s actual arguments. I never claimed that all elephants are abused - just the ones in these videos, at this place, and engaging in this torturous activity. Instead of responding to what I actually said, and refuting the points that I’ve actually made, you’ve claimed that I’ve said something that I haven’t, then proceeded to disagree with that instead. You have done this because, again, you have no way of refuting any of my actual points. Instead of actually responding to what I’ve written, you have pretended that I’ve said something that I haven’t - something that is obviously untrue - and then proceeded to dispute that instead. “What if they just guide their trunks the way they want it to go, and then reward them after until they get the hang of it,” They don’t. I’ve already explained what they really do, so there’s no point in repeating myself. Nevertheless, you should really take your own advice and actually research this topic, instead of simply making up what you wish were true. “they also probably feed them and care for them like pets” They don’t.

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

@@sharlo3799 “like people would train a dog to do something,” Not the way I would train my dogs to do something, but there are plenty of people who - sadly - abuse and torture dogs when they train them. Abuse and torture are always wrong, regardless of the animal being abused. Nevertheless, elephants are not dogs. Dogs have been domesticated for millennia. The dogs we have today do not exist naturally in the wild. We bred them from wolves to be the way that they are - loyal to humans, domesticated, and easily trained. We created different breeds to engage in specific, different activities. Elephants have not been domesticated for millennia. They occur naturally in the wild, which means that they’ve evolved to be in the wild, and are happiest in the wild. Dogs have evolved to be to be trained by humans, and to perform certain tasks. That’s why they’re happiest when they’re with humans, and being stimulated by us. Elephants do not derive any pleasure from performing for humans, the way dogs do. They are happiest when they are free in the wild. They are extremely sensitive creatures, and they love to live in big family groups. Elephant sanctuaries understand this, and allow their elephants to be free and happy. The reason this place tortures their elephants as much as they do is because painting is not a natural activity for elephants. They have no idea what they are painting, and even without their handler standing by and stabbing them, or with their paintbrush inserted into their trunk with metal pokes, the act of painting is extremely painful for them. It is not something that they would voluntarily engage in unless they’ve been completely beaten and broken…so that’s what these places do. “you can’t think of all the bad things that could be happening, think of the good things too” Unlike yourself, I don’t simply pretend that reality is how I want it to be, so that I can go on supporting an abusive practice. Instead, I rely on facts. The fact of the matter is that these elephants spend their lives being tortured, beaten, starved, and performing for the amusement of humans. They spend hours a day painting the same pictures, over and over, even though they are in severe pain, simply because they are frightened of being cut or tortured again by their handlers. f you really want to support elephants, you should support elephant sanctuaries - places that rescue elephants like this. “So go Harrass the bad people and don’t make false accusations about things you THINK you understand, thank you” These ARE the bad people…and as a matter of fact, so are you if you support this. You don’t even know anything about this topic! You haven’t researched, or even googled it. I’ve researched it extensively, and have worked trying to free elephants from places like this, and raise awareness of this issue. I have seen numerous videos of their abuse, and I was familiar with this place long before this channel started posting these videos, because they are renowned for torturing their elephants. Once again, you are projecting. It is YOU who doesn’t understand, YOU who hasn’t researched this topic, and YOU who has repeatedly made false accusations. You assume that I am like you - I’m not. I don’t simply make things up about the world I live in…I rely on facts and evidence to inform my opinion. You may be satisfied with lying to yourself so you feel better about your support of torture. You may be fine supporting people who torture animals. You may be fine not bothering to research the facts, so you can pretend that the torture doesn’t exist, and keep watching videos of elephants painting, in pain. I’m not like you. I’m not okay with those things. Facts matter, and abuse is never okay. If you ignore it, and continue to support the people who do it, YOU ARE CULPABLE. You are just as guilty. I would love it if these elephants were happily painting with kind handlers…but they’re not. We can’t just pretend reality is the way we want it to be. If we want the world to be better than it is, we need to make it better ourselves. And that means stopping this practice, raising awareness, and NOT ignoring, let alone supporting, this abuse…like you have just done.

[@madisona3907]

Simply Awesome! I want one. Suda rocks

[@민트티의향기]

WOW amazing ❤❤❤

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda is quite talented.

[@silva7493]

Beautiful elephant. IMHO as a painter, she seems to be painting, to me. Quite well, too! As long as she enjoys it.

[@ThaiAussies]

She enjoyed doing it because she was waiting for the rewards of sugar cane and bananas.

[@pamelasosin8228]

Yes, she has learned to paint. Absolutely remarkable! A joy to see!

[@ThaiAussies]

It takes quite some time to develop this ability. It is a good elephant/mahout relationship that enables it to be done.

[@mangalashree3932]

So cute and melts my heart

[@mangalashree3932]

@@patsykeny9 what's your problem?

[@usernamemaybe]

I understand it's though repetition and positive reinforcement, and I think she might enjoy it even if it must have been a difficult learning process...but does she understands what she's portraying?

[@pathbanken1800]

That is a very very good question.

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

They don’t use positive reinforcement, actually. They use torture. The owners of this channel are lying to you. This is place is renowned for torturing its elephants.

[@blisswkc3344]

Thank You so much dearest 💐 You’re such an inspiration 🥰 Be Blissful Eternally 🙏😇

[@hdhdhndjdhdhdhdh4297]

So cute!😍

[@CaffeinatedCutie]

This is beautiful, but I can’t take the narrator’s voice seriously because of the memes 😂❤️🐘

[@leedergs]

The elephant was beaten and tortured to learn how to pain lmao.

[@khalidsaeed2485]

Truly remarkable.

[@harrynac6017]

I would like to trust this, but specially the name writing and the fact you never see the human(s) who are with her make me suspicious. I hope the elephant has a good life and that she can be an elephant. There are enough humans on this planet already. No need to humanise elephants.

[@pogpogpurinn]

@@ThaiAussies oh im so glad i found this comment! I was wondering myself! This makes the video even more beautiful to me and makes me want to cry

[@anthonypuccetti8779]

New Horizon, Harry Mac didn't express concern that the elephant was being abused, he expressed suspicion about the elephant painting because there is a human next to it.

[@michaelnewman6936]

@@anthonypuccetti8779 if you would listen to the entire video, The Man patiently explains that yes there are people standing there helping them learn how to paint. If the animal is sufficiently intelligent, like this one, after a while they don't have to be there. They give verbal instructions and reward the elephant for a job well done.

[@michaelnewman6936]

@@anthonypuccetti8779 it has to remain interesting for the tourists.. Also, you can easily see the shadow of the trunk. There is no hand on the trunk, nor is there a shadow of a person standing beside the elephant. Even when signing the name at the end. No hand on the trunk. Draw one elephant, get a banana. Put leaves on the tree, get a treat. It goes in elements and Rewards.

[@anthonypuccetti8779]

@@michaelnewman6936 Animals don't have intelligence. They are irrational. I didn't say that someone was holding the elephant's trunk. You can see a person standing next to the elephant at minute .46.

[@marcfrish9169]

That is amazing!

[@ThaiAussies]

The elephants are assisted by their mahouts to paint. Much of it is by memory. But it does show extraordinary teamwork and bond between mahout and elephant. Still quite amazing though.

[@francinemiranda4504]

I find all elephants remarkable, but these who learn this skill are exceptional. If only I could purchase a painting to support these wonderful creatures...

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Please don’t. These paintings are achieved via extreme torture. If you buy a painting, you will not be helping the elephants, but rather, will be helping the perpetuation of their abuse. If you want to help elephants, raise awareness of this issue and fight against it!

[@xhefriguitars7946]

I have always wanted a pet elephant. I have been to India many times and see a guy walking down the road with his elephant and I get jealous! I knew they were smart, but painting... WOW! Think of the ramifications. Choosing color, type of brush, types of stroke, and planning the picture by seeing in her head then putting it on canvas. It is really almost unbelievable.

[@ThaiAussies]

To give some perspective. Suda was trained to paint by repeating various types of stroles with the assistance of her Mahout. So the elephant will know which way to paint, up, down, left, right, softly, harder stroke by the way the Mahout, pulls or pushes the elephants trunk / tusk. All the same it is quite an amazing thing, the communication skills between elephant and its trainer.

[@pogpogpurinn]

Aww its lovely they have activities around the park and suda enjoys the painting activity! If she doesnt feel like painting that day are they allowed not to paint?

[@exoticbutters8171]

Ohhhhhhhh She does NOT

[@domezz7434]

wow...that is really amazing. Normally, when I see painting I am thinking only like, well painting. Looks nice. But in this I saw warmth...or something like that...Also that little bitter feeling when you realize elephant is better artist than you'll ever be :D

[@ThaiAussies]

Thanks for your nice comment.

[@AbdiPianoChannel]

Very sad yet amazing

[@ThaiAussies]

Observing creatures in their native environment is always more enjoyable to see.

[@BashfulNuke]

Yeah that really sucks for these elephants being forced to do this.

[@li2323003]

There's no mirror in sight. She must be really good! It's amazing Suda has found great purpose in the world of humans and raise fund for painting herself.

[@li2323003]

Perhaps, some explicit painting would sell better in the world of capitalism.

[@kanjilechien7914]

Elephants are one of the very rare species that have shown the ability to understand that they are seeing themselves when looking into a mirror. They are conscious of their own image. This is proven by a quite famous experience called the mirror test. Only elephants, some chimpanzees and some orangutans, certains varieties of dolphins, and a few birds like the crows and ravens can pass this test successfully. So I think that indeed elephants should be able to paint if well trained, because they are able to represent themselves mentally.

[@ThaiAussies]

It's more mechanical and from memory rather than interpreting the things they see and painting them. They may be able to understand simple symbols and paint them with assistance, possibly. eg one paint stroke to mean 'yes' and two to mean 'no' in answer to a very simple question like 'do you want bananas'?

[@sisvssis6154]

Suda you are so so adorable and precious. I can't wait to meet you. ❤❤❤

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda was one of the most well known and loved of the elephants that painted.

[@moonjude1]

Even with guidance she is making great art. Ultimately she holds the brush. I like to think she knows she is painting her species. I really hope she was treated well but humans have a bad reputation when it comes to training animals. If she could teach art to other elephants that would be extraordinary.

[@TarekYahia-v2j]

I love elephant 🐘 too much ❤❤❤

[@phuse99]

Your art collection isn't complete until you have a painting done by an elephant.

[@raymondloane9806]

What amazing talent!!!! Very relaxing to watch. :-D

[@HopeDaw-gc4pq]

"She can paint it better than anyone, she lives it every day"

[@ThaiAussies]

She did paint well with assistance from her Mahout.😀

[@jomontanee]

SUDA IS SUCH AN INTELLIGENT YOUNG ELEPHANT AND HER MAHOOT IS SUCH A PATIENT TEACHER. Suda was taught with the positive reinforcement, NOT ABUSE! She is upgrading her intelligence from being a “wild animal” to the “intelligent living creature”. And you westerners who know nothing about the tight bond between the mahouts and their elephants condemn them that THEY ABUSE THE ELEPHANTS AND THEY ATE FORCED PAIN. So BS and so self righteous!!

[@ThaiAussies]

Thanks for your objective viewpoint.

[@reneelindenaux4767]

so wondrous, they do this b.c of their relationship with their human guardian, it appears that they are able to understand symbols, their meaning and colors. wow what a special creature. All of the creatures on earth seem to have special abilities we are just now realizing and learning about. They have a unique consciousness and being. God bless those who keep them safe and protect them. We have much to learn Thank you so much for this information

[@whirledpeas1182]

Renee Lindenaux no...ask google how they train elephants to paint and then tell me how wondrous they’re relationship is

[@reneelindenaux4767]

@@whirledpeas1182 you misunderstood what I meant but that is ok

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Renee Lindenaux No, they didn’t misunderstand you. The elephants don’t understand symbols. These paintings are achieved through constant torture of the elephants.

[@nancypicazo1299]

AMAZING!

[@ThaiAussies]

It's a combined effort and takes a lot of practice and patience, so yes it is amazing.

[@RedSonja.]

She is learning, clearly progressing, gifted and extraordinary. If that's not intelligence I dont know wat is.

[@kaylinvandermerwe7057]

wow Suda can paint better than me 😂

[@amanndawalker3452]

Amazing 😍❤️

[@maroeundanko6552]

Suds why U super intelligent 🐘baby girl love you beautiful 😻

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda is a very smart elephant.

[@IgrwOw]

This elephant paints better than me.

[@ThaiAussies]

The elephants are assisted by their mahouts, but it is a fine team effort just the same.

[@clay81000]

I feel bad tho… imagine having a folio of art and then somebody just takes it away.. I know it’s for a good reason but lol

[@Spyro_2076]

I wondered why they never show you the whole elephant in frame when she's painting. Still amazing regardless. Now play her some piano :)

[@reviewguy3024]

So you can't see the manipulation made by her handler/torturer

[@Spyro_2076]

@@reviewguy3024 Sorry but not every animal handler has to be a torturer by default.

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Jordan Holmes Not every animal handler has to be a torturer, but in this case, they are. This place is well-known for abusing and torturing their elephants. They have been starved, stabbed, beaten, and given electric shocks, to force them into submission. Even the act of painting is extremely painful for them, as it is uncomfortable for them to hold the brushes. The brushes are often inserted into their trunks and held in place with a horizontal stick. This is very painful for the elephants, as their trunk is filled with nerve endings. They paint the same pictures all day every day, and they don’t paint what they see or want to. Rather, their handler inserts a nail or sharp metal stick behind their ear, and guides their painting, stabbing them if they make any sort of error. The audience is usually oblivious to the truth, unless they know something about elephants, or are exceptionally sensitive to the suffering of animals. This place lies to tourists about their methods, because they don’t want to scare them away, but the fact that they abuse these elephants is well-documented, and obvious if you know what signs to look out for. The elephants in these videos all look malnourished, and depressed. They all show scarring and discolouration, which are signs of torture. There is an elephant sanctuary in the same province as this “elephant camp”. The sanctuary, unlike this place, does not engage in torture. They let the elephants roam free, don’t force them to perform tricks, and try to give them a decent life for their remaining years. This sanctuary sometimes even saves elephants from the place in the video, as they are often killed or abandoned after they have served their purpose. You can visit this sanctuary as a tourist, or volunteer with them.

[@azulion]

@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 I know your comment is already a year old now, but thanks. It is really frustrating see people who support this and don't even bother to question this disgusting practices.

[@patricia2645]

She seems to enjoy painting and seems to be pleased with her work.

[@patricia2645]

I can't tell if you say how old Suda is, 8 or 80? Her Mamut must be proud of his big girl.

[@greenlife8135]

Human paint mostly bcause of his interest on painting..also some people paint in order to reduce the stress and depression..but in here is it really important for the elephants??or does the elephant enjoy it??

[@missnoise1004]

Super talentoso ,hermoso lo adoro

[@febangelgarcia5439]

Suda, I love u so much😘👍👍

[@dawnsunset8998]

It was ok until She wrote her name

[@Zoyiekka]

Dawn Sunset what? I guess she could’ve made it a little smaller

[@ellielittle6681]

she’s an elephant painting and your criticizing her signature 😂

[@davec3651]

I agree, the name makes it look child like. Without the writing, it legitimately looks like adult human artwork.

[@tori4225]

I think Dawn Sunset meant that she thought this was ok until she wrote her name meaning that they might’ve forced her to learn

[@dawnsunset8998]

thedamnedpotato: yes, that is what I was trying to say.

[@SchafjuanS]

Suda should re-breeded to continue her legacy ..this is such a masterpiece

[@JUSTICEshsyedZaC]

❤woow simply woow

[@ThaiAussies]

The paintings are very nice. The elephants are assisted by their mahouts though.

[@zanaizrulzainalabidin4170]

This talented elephant can be a trainer to teach the other elephants how to draw and paint.

[@ThaiAussies]

When an elephant paints it is assisted by it's mahout. The mahout prompts the elephant to do various strokes. They have good memories so over time they can paint the same style of picture more easily.

[@lsmart]

As under other elephant painting videos, there are countless comments below about the torture involved in training the elephants, and it may be true, but I have yet to see anyone present a shred of evidence that this is the case. Moreover, even if some trainers use torture, is there evidence that this is predominantly the case? There are also some charges that simply seem untrue. For example, "Whirled Peas" says Naturalist Desmond Morris bore witness to an elephant painting show in Thailand, and observed that the mahout kept a tight grip on the elephants ear for the entire performance, tugging either right or left to manipulate the elephant into making a certain brush stroke. Clearly, however, Suda is never touched by the mahout while painting. Likewise, he states that they stick in long paint brushes that are very painful, yet you can clearly see Suda paint with short crayons put into his trunk. Also, if Suda can write Jess when painting for a visitor named Jessica, that can't be something she does repeatedly every day. I found nothing on Wikipedia, except a link indicating "that there have been reports of some trainers using torture." Could someone point me to a link that presents actual proof of torture, and that it occurs in more than just a few cases? I despise animal torture as much as anyone else, but I like to see proof of it first, not just claims from internet posters that are then re-quoted thousands of times w/o evidence by other viewers.

[@ThaiAussies]

Thanks for your objective viewpoint on this matter. It is refreshing when people make the effort to determine whether claims made are actually true or not before jumping on the 'proverbial bandwagon'.

[@Mr22thou]

This IS cool, yet now that I understand that the elephants are trained to paint, this is just another circus trick. Elephants can learn & that's great, yet this has been known for a very long time. How long were East Indians training elephants to kneel & carry before Barnum & Baily's people taught them balancing acts or whatever?

[@sherristine2182]

A M A Z I N G !!!!!! 😲❤👏👏👏👏

[@ThaiAussies]

Sure is. Suda and her mahout worked well together as a team.

[@antoniusstanley1366]

Dude she doesn't even need to sketch what a skill

[@ThaiAussies]

She is assisted by her mahout.

[@userxcrashchesss]

2024 anybody?

[@abbyaguilarrr464]

FREEE SUDA FREE SUDA FREE SUDA

[@mr.potato244]

I guarantee you an artist won't last 1 second in the wild She needs human to take care of her like a queen

[@mechamedeamigo3984]

Usually, animals held captive aren't fit to survive in the wilds. If they released her, she would probably be dead at this point.

[@davidreeves8388]

This majestic animal this is amazing And god is wonderful

[@ThaiAussies]

Yes, our creator is wonderful.

[@lifeworksndhenterprisesllc6597]

the enhancing spirit on animal painting was a very good to see things in a whole new light of course by using your head and think.of ideas which is unusual for not any one is a candidly critic. they just doing painting as they please, this is taking step by step on whether they show thier good heed of using a canvas and just scribble which they first started while they continue doing good to their wealth of being. this is just mind blowing,if you believe in yourself.

[@lifeworksndhenterprisesllc6597]

I'm not such amused but I'm had a thought why Ringling Bros. Circus had to shutdown all because of beastality and physical abuse. Thanks for the behind ugliness of 'geniusnality'.

[@JB-gy7ip]

Quand on découvre cet éléphant qui dessine, c'est extraordinaire. Tout est gâché quand l'éléphant signe et écrit son nom. On comprend que c'est artificiel et que l'éléphant a été dressé à dessiner. Qui a créé le dessin ? Le dresseur ou l'éléphant ?

[@kt7629]

Amazing video! Thank you so much for sharing! I do have a question; are all your elephant-painters conditioned to paint the same picture over and over again? Do they ever paint their own pictures (freestyle)? I'm so interested!

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

This is a cruel practice. The elephants aren’t actually drawing because they want to, or painting what they see. Rather they are trained to draw these pictures, and injured when they don’t get them right. Their handlers use sticks with sharp metal points at the end, to cut behind their ears while they are painting. The brushes are very hard and painful for them to hold, and they are sometimes inserted into their trunks with sharp handles. The audience are usually unaware of what is really going on. Do not promote this practice, please. Elephants are extremely sensitive, emotional creatures. They cry when they are sad, and enjoy being free in big family groups. The elephants from these places are killed or abandoned when they have served their usefulness. There are some elephant sanctuaries that try to save elephants who have been tortured like this for our entertainment. Animals, and especially mammals, should not be tortured simply because it makes a good KZbin video.

[@kt7629]

​@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 I think you should educate yourself before commenting. Yes, some places are cruel with their animals and abuse them that way- I'm not denying this sad reality. However, this specific place does not hurt their elephants in the process of conditioning them to paint. When the elephants do a bad job, instead they keep training them until they get it right. They made a video explaining it. Some elephants are just not up to it so they only continue to train the ones that are more prone to the conditioning. And I know- of course the elephants aren't painting bc they want to- it's a conditioning process to earn their treats, yet painting does not hurt them so it is a harmless activity. I do understand that a lot of places probably do abuse the elephants like you mentioned, and there should be a movement to raise awareness and fight to stop/change this. However, because this specific place does not abuse their elephants, there should be no problem in promoting it and attracting visitors to their place. I enjoyed the video. I don't see an issue. The only issue is that they haven't responded to my question which I'm still curious about! IF THEY LIED about it I would be shocked, but they did state they don't abuse their animals, so making such uneducated comments is not very nice.

[@kt7629]

@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 I do appreciate your care for the elephants. I'm glad there are people like you and we should be working for change to stop it!

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

K T That’s actually not true. All these places that have elephants painting hurt their elephants - all of them - in the ways that I mentioned, and through electric shocks, beating, and more. This is filmed in Chiang Mai, and they are no different. In fact, they are known for it. Of course, they will say and pretend differently in front of tourists, and the elephants are so terrified of their cruel handlers that they comply. They stand by the elephants throughout and hold a stick behind their ear, with a sharp metal end, hidden from the audience. This metal end is used to cut them behind their ears every time they make a mistake or draw a line that isn’t perfect. Meanwhile, the oblivious audience praises the handlers and laughs and takes pictures, then rides more elephants who have been tortured around the park. The elephants paint the exact same pictures every day, for years on end. There is an animal sanctuary nearby, and they sometimes take in the elephants who have been abandoned by this place after a life of torture - for no reason other than that people want to see an elephant paint a picture. The elephants in these videos all show signs of injury and depression - easily overlooked if you don’t know much about elephants.

[@kt7629]

@@ThaiAussies thank you for replying, that's really interesting !

[@adriasorensen2249]

You know it is going to be good when they say "you be the judge" because they know that you know elephant can paint. No denying this talent!

[@ThaiAussies]

Thank you for your comment.

[@jillyannlovesjack1933]

This is just brilliant! She's amazing and she obviously loves doing it. WTG!

[@douglascrouse8793]

She probably enjoys not being punished for not doing as expected.

[@narongritsuksam8142]

Elephants in Thailand are very smart.

[@ThaiAussies]

Yes, they are. They can do a variety of amazing things.

[@samdoctor4900]

Amazing thanks for the VDO

[@sagarraturi3069]

What's amazing about this is that the elephant could even differentiate the angles and knows how an to draw an elephant from behind angle also the elephant has knowledge of colour

[@ThaiAussies]

Not sure if she really recognizes colours though like an artist does.

[@JohnBlaze-e3p]

That’s crazy a elephant can paint

[@ThaiAussies]

They are assisted by their mahouts. The paintings are good all the same.

[@annbounds7087]

To train the elephant to move the brush to create stroke patterns that we recognize as flowers, trees, or even an elephant, the mahouts use these painful prods to guide the elephant's movements. Further, if an elephant paints incorrectly, they are beaten, either with a bullhook or physically hit on their head or trunk.

[@CyberWaveRadio-nn4om]

Was she trained to make that painting or did she come up with it on her own

[@ThaiAussies]

She was trained to do the painting. It is still pretty amazing.

[@namburidevi8584]

Awesome

[@lilliebrown6320]

Suda is a perfect example of how Great My God is!! Jesus' very own creation, how wonderful it is!

[@ThaiAussies]

There are many wonderful creations.

[@KernFamily7]

I want one of suda`s pantings I love you suda suda is so cute and talented he is a better painter then me

[@ThaiAussies]

Suda is no longer painting. However you can still obtain a lovely print of one her paintings at: funkyart.pixels.com/collections/thai+elephant+art+print+collection

[@felicitytoad]

Do the ladies help a bit ? I think the elephants like drawing but they like a bit of help sometimes

[@ThaiAussies]

You are correct. Their mahouts assist them to paint.

[@fluffy2138]

Maybe it wasn’t the cavemen drawing and we are the animals😞

[@carlosparra5595]

Le mente de un elefante puede pintar su ideas a su estilo entonse es muy intelijente.

[@DBMthe1]

I wanna go there

[@Zoyiekka]

New Horizon I guess I have more traveling to do 😂

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Please don’t. Research this place, they are well-known for abusing their elephants. I can link you to some articles about this, if you’re interested. There is an elephant sanctuary nearby that saves elephants, including ones that have suffered shocking abuse at this place. If you go to Chiang Mai, and you really care about elephants, you should go there instead.

[@abramcarley6889]

That elephant has more artistic talent than me... idk how to feel about it

[@ThaiAussies]

The elephant is assisted by it's mahout. The paintings are still very nice all the same.