The Oklahoma City Zoo to Auction Orangutan Art as NFTs

‍The Oklahoma City Zoo collaborated with the Oklahoma Zoological Society on a unique animal enrichment program, dubbed ‘Art Gone Wild’, which resulted in Elok, the resident orangutan, creating a collection of NFTs.

The Oklahoma City Zoo is commemorating International Orangutan Day with a special event: an auction of 20 digitally painted artworks by Elok, the zoo's 21-year-old orangutan. The works are in the form of NFTs, which are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles that will be auctioned off on the NFT platform OpenSea until noon on August 22.

The purpose of the orangutan-designed NFTs is to raise funds for the protection of wild orangutans and their habitat. Although there are many NFTs with ape and monkey themes, these are the first orangutan-made NFTs ever.

Elok created the artwork on a 3X4-foot screen with a 2-foot digital brush. A motion sensor displayed the artwork onto the screen as the brush was moved. Elok, a 21-year-old Sumatran orangutan, freely engaged in the program, making him the first known animal digital artist in the world.

The Zoo is expecting that the initiative, which introduces conservation, charity, and animal enrichment to the NFT area, would be received with enthusiasm on a worldwide scale. Elok's artwork will be sold, and all proceeds will go toward protecting orangutans and other vulnerable species.

On Friday, August 19, the NFTs will be offered via an international auction.

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