Eat your heart out, Picasso: Red pandas get artsy at Assiniboine Park Zoo

If you've never owned anartwork created by an animal, you can change thatthis weekend in Winnipeg.

Assiniboine Park Zoo will auctionoff paw-printartwork Saturday for International Red Panda Day. The colourful creations were made by the zoo's ownresident cuddly-wuddly red pandas.

"These art pieces are truly unique and wehope that they will inspire the community to care about red pandas,"Janice Martin, Assiniboine Park Zoo curator, said in a statement Thursday.

Several other activities are going on at the zoo over the weekend to mark the occasion, including readings of stories about red pandas, panda-themed activities for kids and more.

People can bid on the artwork in thegift shop or bid ona special piece featured online through the zoo's Facebook page. The online auction runs from Friday at 9 a.m. CT and closes Sunday at 10 p.m. CT.

Proceeds from the artwork auction will go to the Red Panda Network, a conservation organization committed to protecting red pandas in their natural habitat.