FORGET Jackson Pollock. When it comes to abstract painting it needs an elephant to show them how it's done.

A piece of work by a pachyderm Picasso has gone under the hammer at Sotheby's in Billingshurst and attracted a great deal of interest in the process.

Turner-prize winner Chris Ofili won £20,000 for a painting that featured elephant dung but this untitled abstract by Indian elephant Loukennkhng is worth about £500.

It is the first time in Sotheby's 250-year history that a painting by a four-legged animal, instead of a two-legged one, has been sold.

The money raised from the sale, believed to be upwards of £500, goes to Rusper-based international charity Care for the Wild.

The painting was done by five-year-old Loukennkhng while she was being treated for an eye infection at the world's first elephant hospital in Thailand.

Rachel Aked at Sotheby's said: "A painter was in the area at the time and was doing some work around the hospital.

"He noticed that this particular elephant was watching him with interest so he decided to give her a brush, stretched some canvas in front of her and waited to see what happened.

"She then started using her trunk, swept the brush across the canvas and now you can see the result.

"I've spoken to Sotheby's in London and they, along with me, are certain we have never sold anything like this before. It is great fun.

"I don't know whether we would do anything like this again but I suppose if the demand is there we will consider it again in the future.

"It is more than likely we would do it for charitable purposes like this. Care for the Wild is a worthwhile venture and we are always pleased to support it."

The 68cm by 53cm abstract painting is untitled and is one of only two pieces of work done by the elephant. The whereabouts of the other painting is unknown.

Julia Robinson, from Care for the Wild, said she was delighted about the interest shown in the painting as it helped to promote the work of the charity.

It has helped to relocate more than 500 elephants in Zimbabwe, to stop them being culled, and helps support Tsavo national park in Kenya, where more than 8,500 elephants live.

Mrs Robinson said: "The elephant is still alive and doing very well for herself in Thailand but we don't think she'll be asked to do any more work."

Sotheby's is holding a Wildlife in Art Sale on Tuesday when a wide selection of paintings are available.

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