Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
Four Paintings by Nashville Zoo Elephants contains paitings created by Hadari and Kiba, two elephants formerly held at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Hadari was born in 1980 in Africa and died in The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2017. Kiba was born in Zimbabwe around 1984 and died at Nashville Zoo in 2009.
Because elephants are intelligent and active creatures, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere provides activities for their elephants to keep them engaged and strengthen bonds between elephants and trainers. Zoo staff taught Hadari and Kiba how to hold a paint brush and drag it along paper, which mimics their natural inclination to pick up sticks and "draw" in the dirt.
Hadari was born in Africa and transported to the United States at one year old. She was first kept at Jungle Larry's African Safari in Cedar Point, Florida, then moved to Nashville Zoo in 1995 with Kiba. Then on September 24, 2015, Hadari was moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee for retirement. She died unexpectedly on January 2, 2017 at age 36.
Kiba was born in Zimbabwe around 1984 and spent time in American attractions and sideshows before being rescued by Chuck and Risé Pankow and settling at the Nashville Zoo in 1995. She developed a degenerative joint injury and was euthanized in December 2009 at age 26.
This collection contains four paintings by elephants at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Hadari painted one, and Kiba painted three. The paintings are mounted on cardboard and come with a description of the elephant and background on the artwork.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries’ “Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain” and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Four Paintings by Nashville Zoo Elephants, MC 00807, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift, 2026 August (Accession 2026.0104).
Processed by: Ella Mayfield, 2026 September; Collection guide written by: Ella Mayfield, 2026 September
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
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[Identification of item], Four Paintings by Nashville Zoo Elephants, MC 00807, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries’ “Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain” and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.