Beluga Whales at Japan Aquarium Have Taken Up Painting

Three beluga whales living in captivity at the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Japan have recently taken up painting.

The marine mammals have been given special brushes, which they hold in their mouth, and, guided by their trainers, they are now busy showing off their artistic skills to aquarium visitors. Japan Daily Press tells us that these beluga whales have been taught to paint as part of the marine park's “geijutsu no aki” (i.e. “autumn, the best season for art”) project.

Granted, most of the paintings created by these marine mammals are fairly abstract. Still, visitors to the park seem to really appreciate their artistic skills.

Animal rights activists, on the other hand, maintain that beluga whales are wild animals, and that the aquarium’s staff has no business teaching them to perform such tricks just to attract more visitors and up the facility's profits.

Check out the video below to see the whales at work and learn more about this project.