Quirky China News / Rex USA
A trainer at Polar Ocean World said that Xiao Qiang always showed interest in their posters, and would vigorously nod his approval at the ones he liked, according to Rex USA. When they decided to hand him a brush, he took to it immediately, honing his artistic abilities within a week. His paintings have been given away and sold to lucky, whale-loving tourists and visitors. You can see the artist himself in action through the magic of video.
The photo above shows a boat in the ocean, something that has proven to be one of Xiao Qiang's favorite artistic subjects.
What do you think, Paw Nation readers? Is this an adorable way to make the public aware of how intelligent these creatures truly are? Or do you want Xiao Qiang to put down the brush and return to swimming in the ocean?
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That's amazing. I would like to see the whale free in the ocean with occasionla visits to art class as part of it's life.
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Another Black Season
Unfortunately, I do agree that animals should live in their own habitat, but I also have to admit that seeing them up close and personal is a real thrill! I guess I'm truly undecided! (I never could make a decision)
I really hate seeing these big huge animals and putting them in a tank. They belong in the ocean. I refuse to go to the zoo because these animals belong in their home territory.
I AGREE !. Wild animals have no business in a zoo. They should live where they belong....in the wild. I do understand keeping endangered species for breeding purposes but other than that....leave them alone.
ok, people dont go out into the ocean saying "hey! theres a beluga whale right there! lets catch it and put it into a zoo!" Most, if not all, of the animals in zoos are either born there, or RESCUED from the wild because of injuries. What would happen if we let all of the white tigers out into the wild? They would become extinct because they stand out so much! I know thats not the case with the majority of animals, but if an animal grows up in a zoo, that's all it knows, and as long as its happy, then I see no problem. Animals dont think like humans. They don't sit and dream about life if they were in the wild. Zoos help people learn more about animals, so they know more about them and are less likely to mistreat them. I do think that putting whales in the size tanks they have at zoos is a bit sad, however.
I absolutely agree. I can't stand that these animals basically live in a bath tub. I can understand if an animal is injured or an endangered species. Even if an animal is injured, isn't that a part of nature? My family used to go to Sea World several times a year. Never again.
Hey, if I were sentenced to life in a small tank, I'd take up painting, too. Or ANYTHING to relieve the boredom!
You are forgetting that if a lot of animals where not put into zoo's and conservation areas they would be extinct.
Yeah we'll put them back in the ocean so they eat our garbage (a dead whale was recently found with 50 lbs of human garbage in its stomach) and drink our smooth oil. If that doesn't get them the Japanese will slaughter them. I would say it is safer in the tank painting pictures...
I agree that some animals should be in their natural habitat, but we need to know more about them. Zoos do more than teach about animals; sometimes they are the only alternative when an animal is injured, or otherwise can't be returned to their habitat. While I'd hate to see an animal in a zoo, it is much prefered than to see if stuffed and mounted on the wall.
As for Xiao Qiang, we've always known Dolphins were highly intelligent. Why not other species? Xiao Qiang's art is pretty good for a whale, as long as the trainer isn't pushing him to do something he doesn't want or can't do - such as moving the board while the whale just holds the brush.
I think the biggest thing that's going to come out of the Whale's art is that maybe those that think of whale as only food might come to understand that the whale is intelligent. I doubt it, but we can hope.
Unfortunately too many species have been threatened, endangered, or are extinct in the wild due to many factors, that the only way to preserve some species is through zoo and wildlife sanctuary conservation. Many species like the Przewalski's Horse, once extinct in the wild, have been involved in extensive reintroduction programs and now exist again in the wild BECAUSE of breeding programs in zoos and wildlife preserves.
Another example if proper wildlife conservation with zoos is the Tasmanian Devil. They are endangered in the wild but they have captive breeding programs because the wild population in Tasmania is being ravaged by a transmissible facial cancer. So they have isolated healthy populations on islands near Tasmania and in sanctuarys in order to protect the ultimate survival of the species in the wild. Accredited zoos and sanctuary's that have extinct in the wild species work with various other facilities in order to mantain a population high enough to begin to consider reintroduction if the species still has a proper habitat in place.
I don't see why these animals could not be viewed for maybe 6 months or so and then allowed thier freedom. These are not pets and should not be treated like them. Some of the stories one reads about thier loneliness, and apparent suicides makes me know which way to view this. Let them go!
I think the whale is trying to tell us that he would rather be swimming in the ocean where he used to see ships and boats going by, and he hates living in what would amount to a prison cell for you and me. A cry for help. Or maybe they taught him a trick to do on command for a handful of sardines, that he has learned to do to avert hunger since he can no longer hunt for his own food.Seriously folks, with technology we can learn what we can from this animals in their natural habitat, and if we can learn from them to cure diesease and make the world a better place I'm all for it. Bottom line, seaworld and others are profiteering off of these intelligent creatures that quite often were taken away from their mothers and family pod in the wild. Give Us Free!
Yup! They kidnap animals and cage them so YOU can pay MONEY to see them.
The very first impression I got when I saw the whale's painting was that of a ship on the ocean. Hmm, I wonder.
Wow! This whale is smarter than George W. Bush!
agreed wholeheartedly. Whales belong in the ocean., not penned up in pools.
LOL, a SLUG is smarter than The Shrub!!
How does a whale automatically know how to paint
they purposefully make bubble patterns to play with. so they know about being able to change the shape of things into pleasing or desired visual spectacles.
and most, if not all, things alive do 'create' desired scenes with sound.
many use sticks to create desired scenes. like birds do for their nests.
maybe the real point is, if we know how to do it then it is a bit over the top to assume we are the only ones.