Passage1TheArtoftheElephantsIfyourcatwalkedacrosssomethingyouwerepaintingandleftfootprintsbehind,wouldyouconsideryourcatanartist
Whatifyourbirdheldacoloredpencilinitsbeak(喙)andpaintedonapieceofpaper
Mostpeoplemaythinkofanimalartasajoke,butsomepeoplehavebeentakingitveryseriously
ElephantswereusedforhundredsofyearsinThailand’sloggingindustry(伐木业)
Theymovedwoodfromforestsinareaswheretherewerenoroads
Atthebeginningofthiscentury,whentheforestsofThailandbegantoquicklydisappear,thegovernmentputastoptologging
Allofasudden,manyelephantsinThailandnolongerhadawaytomakealiving
Someelephantsweretreatedbadly
Othershadtotrytoliveontheirownandcouldn’tfindenoughfoodtoeat
TherewereoncetensofthousandsofelephantsinThailand
Today,therearelessthanfivethousand
WhentwoRussianAmericanartists,VitalyKomarandAlexMela