PRETORIA, South Africa (CNN) -- Oliver the Otter proved that modern art is not all wet when two of his paintings sold for more than $3,000 recently, in an auction benefiting the Pretoria Zoo.

The painting technique of Oliver, a Cape Clawless otter, is easy: He simply leaps into the paint and then rolls around on the canvas.

While the result may seem fishy to many, labor relations consultant Lucas Coetzee considered his $1,170 purchase of one of Oliver's paintings a great catch.

"It's not so much the painting, it's what it means as a contribution toward nature conservation," Coetzee said.

The second painting was bought by Johannesburg-based Shanty Industries for $1,700.

Conservation subsidies have been reduced in South Africa while the government tries to provide housing and infrastructure for disadvantaged communities.

The Pretoria Zoo holds an auction each year to raise funds, and every year paintings by one of the zoo's animals are featured.

Reuters contributed to this report.