For the second time, the Animal Art Show is being held at the Oakland Zoo in California, featuring the works of 21 animal artists, including a cockroach.

The art show began as a means of funding Oakland Zoo's conservation programs for animals in the wild. The animal artists produced 32 masterpieces, all of which will be auctioned on eBay. All works will be framed and sent to winning bidders with a photo of the animal artists and the story of their life thus far. The auction began on Sept. 10 and will end on Sept. 21. Bids started at around $200.

For those concerned about the welfare of the animals, don't fret. All the paints used were non-toxic and none of the animals were forced to participate in the painting sessions. Plus, all were given treats when they did so. Not that they needed a lot of encouraging. Their keepers reported that many of the animals were more than willing to give painting a shot, eagerly trying out the activity presented to them.

Some of the animals that participated in this year's Animal Art Show include:

• Donna, the African elephant. No one would think she's 35 years old given how this girl is still so playful. She likes to play with tractor tires at night and has no problem charging into the pool to cool down. Keepers helped Donna paint by giving her paintbrushes, but the spunky elephant was in charge all the way, demonstrating big strokes fitting for an animal with a presence like hers.
• The Meerkat mob. Meerkats are team players, working collectively to achieve their goal. This was evident in Oakland Zoo's meerkats, a group of related family members who used their penchant for curiosity and exploration to come up with their painting for the Animal Art Show.
• Andy, the Madagascar hissing cockroach. Though the smallest of the animal artists, Andy didn't let his size get in the way of creating a masterpiece. He pitter-pattered his way through the canvas, leaving an explosion of yellows, greens and violets.
• Sandy, the lion. Sandy got out of the exotic animal trade and found herself at the Oakland Zoo with her brother Leonard back in 2000. Since then, they've become the leaders of the lion exhibit, winning the hearts of not just their keepers but zoo guests as well. Her painting is the most subdued of all the works, but that doesn't mean it is boring. As the work of a lion, it commands attention despite the minimalist approach Sandy has taken.

In the first Animal Art Show auction, the Oakland Zoo managed to raise $10,000.

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