Who?
Gipper, our oldest male musk ox at 20 years old!
What?
Our musk oxen produce not only qiviut, but also art! These abstract, original works of art are snoot-and-hoof-made by members of our herd. They are definitely not starving artists. There were lots of extra treats for motivation to explore their creative side. These one-of-a-kind paintings are fun for the musk oxen and help support their care.
Why?
Creating unique pieces of art is a form of enrichment. Enrichment gives animals mental and physical stimulation and gives them more opportunities to practice natural behaviors in a safe and positive way.
How?
Painting done by our musk oxen involves a canvas or paper placed inside a waterproof bag with different colors of nontoxic paint. We then put feed on top of the bag. This gives the musk ox new textures to explore. It also provides a new smell, sound, and environment where they receive their treats. Each musk ox interacts with their enrichment differently: some push it aside and some paw at the new item in their world.
Details:
Unframed 8" x 8" canvas. Also included are a photo and bio of your musk ox artist. Colors may vary due to differences in screen monitors.
