An elephant couple in a zoo in Japan have been teaching their baby how to paint.

Tourists are flooding into the Ichihara Elephant Kingdom to see what's claimed to be the first painting elephant family.

Sayuri Sakamoto's the general manager at the Ichihara Elephant Kingdom says there is also a serious message behind the exercice.

Sakamoto said it's hoped that watching the family paint, people will understand how well the animals communicate and notice the importance of their own family's communication.

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