Not So Hopeless
Endangered animals: the media represents this topic with a wave of negativity rendering people to feel powerless. However, all around the world people are making changes to save our animals - and it’s working. From individuals to large organizations, people are saving animals from near extinction and increasing their populations; some to the extent that animals have been taken off the endangered species list. As we are currently experienced extremely high rates of extinction because of humans, it is vital that we know these success stories to realize that our actions can make a difference.
For my series ‘’Not So Hopeless’’ I’ve been collecting these stories and representing each in a painting. I infuse a portrait and the animal with the traditional patterns, fashion, and official flower from each region. 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.
#notsohopeless @emilyreadart
For my series ‘’Not So Hopeless’’ I’ve been collecting these stories and representing each in a painting. I infuse a portrait and the animal with the traditional patterns, fashion, and official flower from each region. 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.
#notsohopeless @emilyreadart
Murals
Alpine Ibex, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy
Starting in the 16th Century, the alpine ibex was heavily poached until after the second world war, only 416 ibex remained in the whole world. All of the ibex remaining resided in the Gran Paradiso National park in Italy. Greatly thanks to work done by rangers, there are now over 4,000 in the park and over 30,000 in the world.(1)
"Now, with greater protection, there are almost 4,000 (in the Gran Paradiso National Park) of these stocky, fearless, remarkably trusting grazers in lush mountain pastures in summer, descending to lower elevations in winter, only glancing up in mild surprise when quiet visitors approach within a few yards." (2)
Read more: (1) IUCN Red List Report (2) World Wide Safari guide "Gran Paradiso" based on the prize-winning book Nature's Stronghold, Princeton University Press
"Now, with greater protection, there are almost 4,000 (in the Gran Paradiso National Park) of these stocky, fearless, remarkably trusting grazers in lush mountain pastures in summer, descending to lower elevations in winter, only glancing up in mild surprise when quiet visitors approach within a few yards." (2)
Read more: (1) IUCN Red List Report (2) World Wide Safari guide "Gran Paradiso" based on the prize-winning book Nature's Stronghold, Princeton University Press
Peregrine Falcon, Montreal, Quebec
In 1980, there was only one peregrine falcon nesting couple left in southern Quebec which increased to 196 by 2015. (1) In 2018 in Montreal, fifteen have been born in Montreal and all have survived! (2) Peregrine Falcons in Quebec have consistently occupying more territories since 1970. (3) Populations of peregrine falcons have increased all over Canada greatly thanks to the ban on the insecticide DDT. (1)
""This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (2,600% increase over 40 years)" (4)
Read more: (1) Peregrine falcon population sees record growth in Quebec, CBC, Oct 2015, (2) Une Excellent Année Pour le Faucon Pérlin à Montreal, Radio Canada, Martin Labrosse, 2018, (3) Quebec Management Plan for Peregrine Falcons, COSEWIC, (4) IUCN, Red list: Peregrine Falcon, The peregrine falcon's remarkable turnaround - Canadian Geographic, Harry Wilson, Dec.2017,
""This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (2,600% increase over 40 years)" (4)
Read more: (1) Peregrine falcon population sees record growth in Quebec, CBC, Oct 2015, (2) Une Excellent Année Pour le Faucon Pérlin à Montreal, Radio Canada, Martin Labrosse, 2018, (3) Quebec Management Plan for Peregrine Falcons, COSEWIC, (4) IUCN, Red list: Peregrine Falcon, The peregrine falcon's remarkable turnaround - Canadian Geographic, Harry Wilson, Dec.2017,
Brown Bear, Tolosa, Basque Country, Spain
Brown bears almost became extinct due to illegal poaching in the Cantabrian Mountains, in the Basque Region of Northern Spain. Thanks to efforts from EuroNature and other foundations the population has almost double within ten years. (1)
Learn more: The Guardian: Brown Bears Rising in Europe
Organisations: (1)EuroNatur, Fundacio Oso Asturias, Fundacio Oso Pardo
Learn more: The Guardian: Brown Bears Rising in Europe
Organisations: (1)EuroNatur, Fundacio Oso Asturias, Fundacio Oso Pardo
Egyptian Vulture, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Catalonia is the only area in Europe where the Egyptian Vulture population is increasing. An interesting study from 1988 -2014 found that vultures in the area actually prefer to eat at landfills rather than in conservation areas where food is laid out for them. (2) Since 1988, their population has jumped from just one breeding pair to 28 (1) and they are occupying all their historical territories as well as new ones (3).
Read more: (1)Egyptian Vultures increasing in Catalonia (2) Mass landfills are saving endangered vultures from extinction (3) Monitoring Vultures
Organisations: EuroNatur, Fundacio Oso Asturias, Fundacio Oso Pardo
Read more: (1)Egyptian Vultures increasing in Catalonia (2) Mass landfills are saving endangered vultures from extinction (3) Monitoring Vultures
Organisations: EuroNatur, Fundacio Oso Asturias, Fundacio Oso Pardo
Grizzly Bear, Canada
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IUCN declares that brown bear populations around the world are now stable. However, there are isolated populations that are at risk. Some areas in southern British Columbia are at the greatest risk, where there are approximately less than 10 remaining. (1)
"These bears continue to face threats from human-related conflicts and habitat loss and fragmentation, bringing them closer and closer to disappearing from landscapes they currently occupy." - (2) CPAWS is a non-profit organization that has started fighting to save the brown bears in these regions. "Grizzly bears are an “umbrella species”- ensuring their survival requires that the health of the ecosystem as a whole is maintained, and by doing so this protects a much broader array of species." CPAWS Learn more: (1) IUCN Report, (2) CPAWS, BC bans grizzly hunt as federal government proposes listing under Species at Risk Act, Dec 18, 2017 Organisations: CPAWS |
Watercolours
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
(3)"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 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) Learn more: 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, PakistanIn 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 |
