Introduction

Tumbles is a 14-year-old elephant famous for painting colorful abstract pieces with his trunk. He became an international sensation when one of his paintings sold for $14,000 at a charity auction. His work has been described as “joyful chaos with an unmistakable elephant-y charm.”

Early Life

Tumbles was born on April 28, 2011, in a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand. As a calf, he showed an early fascination with paint buckets, particularly tipping them over onto his handlers. A visiting artist noticed his curiosity and offered him a brush—he’s been painting ever since.

Later Years

Tumbles currently paints daily as part of his enrichment routine and donates most of his artwork to wildlife conservation causes. He also participates in gentle art shows and has an online fan club called “The Trunk Gallery.” Recently, he painted a mural the size of a minibus using only splatters and foot-stomps.

Contributions

Tumbles has brought attention to the intelligence and creativity of elephants through his colorful work. He has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for habitat preservation. Art critics and biologists alike study his brushstrokes with curiosity and admiration.

Fun Facts

His favorite color is blue, which he tries to taste at least once a week.
He once painted on a zookeeper’s shirt by accident—now it’s framed in a museum.