Not So Hopeless
Endangered animals. The media represents this topic with a wave of negativity rendering people to feel powerless. However, around the world the tides are starting to change as people are working to help our endangered animals. From individuals to large organizations, people are saving animals from near extinction and increasing their populations.
In the United States the Endangered Species Act placed in 1973 has been 99% successful at preventing extinction. In Asia engrained traditions that have existed for thousands of years are starting to change as animal protection laws are being put in place and new awareness efforts are starting to shift mentalities. Even in developing and unstable countries in Africa and South America, small communities and individuals are having astounding success in increasing the populations of endangered animals.
For my series ‘’Not So Hopeless’’ I’ve been collecting these stories and representing each in a painting. Every painting is an iconic representation of the country and story - and together they will give a visual impact of the positive change happening around the world to save our animals. At this pinnacle moment in history where animals are becoming extinct at high rates because of humans, it is vital that we know these success stories to realize that our actions can make a difference.
#notsohopeless @emilyreadart
In the United States the Endangered Species Act placed in 1973 has been 99% successful at preventing extinction. In Asia engrained traditions that have existed for thousands of years are starting to change as animal protection laws are being put in place and new awareness efforts are starting to shift mentalities. Even in developing and unstable countries in Africa and South America, small communities and individuals are having astounding success in increasing the populations of endangered animals.
For my series ‘’Not So Hopeless’’ I’ve been collecting these stories and representing each in a painting. Every painting is an iconic representation of the country and story - and together they will give a visual impact of the positive change happening around the world to save our animals. At this pinnacle moment in history where animals are becoming extinct at high rates because of humans, it is vital that we know these success stories to realize that our actions can make a difference.
#notsohopeless @emilyreadart
Amur Tiger, Russia
амурский тигр
(amurskiy tigr), watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
In the 1940s, there were only 40 Amur tigers left due to poaching. Russia became the first country to put full protection on the tiger. Their population raised to 500 by the 1980s and has been stable since, even in spite of increased poaching(1).This is thanks to work done by the WWF, WSC, along with many others.
"The vast tracts of tiger forests in the Amur-Heilong landscape are unique....which provide an important habitat for the Amur tiger and its prey—as well as important economic resources for local communities" (2). Conservations efforts are still in need as illegal deforestation and poaching are still threatening the Amur Tiger. Learn more: (1)(2)WWF Report, All About Wildlife: Siberian Tiger Saved from Extinction Organisations: WCS Russia, WWF Sea Turtle, Greece
θαλάσσια χελώνα (Sea Turtle), watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
"Even as doom and gloom stories flood the news, conservation efforts are turning the tide for threatened sea turtles. New research suggests that all seven sea turtle species are experiencing population growth worldwide, demonstrating the ecological value of long-term conservation policy and action." (1) Julia John
“What people have been doing all these years on sea turtles seems to have had a positive impact on their populations,” said Antonios Mazaris, first author on the study published in Science Advances. “We should continue to work to safeguard endangered wildlife.” (2) Countries like Greece are high risk areas for sea turtles due to the increase of tourism, The Sea Turtle Protection Society in Greece protects over 2,500 nests every year.(3) The most important nesting areas have been protected by Greek law since 1999 and by the WWF. (4) Learn more; (1)(2)The WildLife Society, Sea Turtle Populations Rise Globally, Julia John, Science Advances, (3) Archelon (4) WWF, Sea Turtle Organisations: WWF, Archelon Short-Tailed Albatross, Japan
アホウド, watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2019
In 1954, roughly six breeding pairs were present on Torishima. Given that there are now 609 breeding pairs on Torishima(1), the species has undergone an enormous increase since its rediscovery and the onset of conservation efforts."(2) (1) H. Hasegawa in litt. 2014 (2) IUCN, Short-tailed Albatross Report Hirola, Kenya
Hirola, watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
A small community in Northern Kenya has brought back the world's most endangered antelope from extinction. SOS Grantee Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) has reported that their population has tripled in just three and a half years in the Ishaqbini Hirola Sanctuary.
"Ishaqbini is part of a network of 33 community conservancies in northern Kenya, operating under the umbrella of the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT). Together they are managing over 44,000 km² of land, stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Great Rift Valley. Not only are they conserving wildlife, but they are securing peace and building resilient livelihoods for rural communities on the back of it."(1) (1) IUCN: World's Rarest Antelope Flourishes Under Community Conservation Organisations: Ishaqbini-Hirola Community Conservancy |
Lynx, Portugal
Lince, watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
After decades of decline, the Iberian Lynx population recently tripled allowing the IUCN to raise their status from critically endangered to endangered. After extensive work in Portugal and Spain, the number of reproductive females increased from just 27 to 97 between 2002 and 2012. The whole population of mature individuals has now reached 156. (1) “This is fantastic news for the Iberian Lynx, and excellent proof that conservation action really works,” says Urs Breitenmoser, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cat Specialist Group. “However, the job is far from finished and we must continue our conservation efforts to secure future range expansion and population growth of the species.” (2) Learn more: (1) Portugal News: Siberian Lynx Saved from Extinction, (2) IUCN: Conservations Successes Overshadowed, The Guardian: How Spain Saved the Lynx, NY Times: Saving a Fussy Predator in Europe, With Help from 50,000 Rabbits Organisations: EuroNatur, WWF Oregon Chub, USA
Oregon Chub, watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
After bouncing back from near extinction the Oregon Chub was completely delisted from the Endangered Species list in 2015 - "making it the first fish to ever be delisted dur to recovery"
"Today, after 22 years of recovery work, there are an estimated 140,000 chub in 80 populations along the Willamette River and its tributaries." (1) “This is an excellent example of how the ESA (Endangered Species Act) is intended to function,” Hannan added, “partners working together to recover endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they, and we, depend.” (2) Richard Hannan, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wild Life Office Learn more: (1) (2) Gazette Times: Oregon Chub Swims off the Endangered Species List BENNETT HALL Corvallis Gazette-Times Feb 17, 2015, Organisations: Oregon Chub Conservation Markhor, Pakistan
مارکور (Markhor), watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2018
In Pakistan, markhor numbers fell by about 70 percent in the 20th century. In Tajikistan, once home to an abundance of the species, fewer than 350 were counted in the mid-1990s. (1)
Pakistan took action to protect the animal from poachers and educated the public. Soon Tajikistan followed and took action as well. These actions were extremely effective resulting in the IUCN downgrading the markhor’s listing from “endangered” to “near threatened” in 2015. (2) "Markhor populations have increased to over 1,000 in Tajikistan, according to a 2013 study. Some parts of Pakistan have had a population increase of more than 50 percent since 1999."(1) (1) Huffington Post "Humans Almost Drove These 6 Animals To Extinction. But We Saved Them Instead" - Dominique Mosbergen (2)IUCN Report Red Kangaroo, Australia
Red Kangaroo, watercolour on paper, 52x70cm, 2019
"Red kangaroos, the biggest marsupials in the world, live only in Australia. They were originally considered endangered due to "commercial importation of kangaroos, their parts and products," according to the Federal Register species account.
Less than 10 years after being included on the Endangered Species list, these bouncers were put up for delisting, but then new data revealed that a severe drought had prevented populations from recovering. Just about a decade after that, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed red kangaroo populations stable, removing these animals from the ESA." (1) (1) Back from the Brink: 13 Animals Saved from Extinction, Michele Berger, Oct 31, 2014, weather.com |