"Tiger Tears"

The first painting in this collection portrays a Siberian tiger cub in watercolor. Resting amidst the grass, the tiger lays its head on one front paw, its gaze directed at the viewer. With a somber expression and tears in its eyes, the tiger serves as a poignant reminder of the destruction of its habitat and the threat to its existence caused by human activity.

They live in remote areas where it’s difficult for humans to reach them; however, poaching has decreased their numbers significantly over the years.

Approximately 350-400 adult Siberian tigers are left in the wild, with 95% of these individuals inhabiting the forests of the Russian Far East.

"Born Together, Best Friends Forever"

This painting celebrates the extraordinary birth of twin elephant calves—a male and a female—in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve. Born in January 2022 to a female named Bora, their rare birth has captured hearts worldwide, as elephant twins make up only 1% of all births. They arrived during one of the severest droughts. Later that year, after I completed this artwork, the Samburu Facebook page reported spotting Bora and the male calf, sadly indicating that the female calf didn't survive the drought.

African elephants have been relentlessly hunted for the ivory trade since ancient times. This, along with the horrific practice of trophy hunting, has caused their populations to decline significantly throughout Africa during the last century. Today, there are fewer than 500,000 African elephants left in the wild, most of them living in protected areas like national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Unfortunately, poachers often infiltrate these areas, posing an ongoing threat to their survival.

"Once Upon a Time"

Once upon a time, in the serene depths of the ocean, a majestic Green Sea Turtle glided gracefully through crystal clear waters. Its movements were unhindered, its habitat pristine and untouched by the scourge of plastic waste. In this idyllic scene, the turtle embodies the beauty and harmony of nature as it was meant to be. It is increasingly common to see images of turtles and other marine animals trapped in plastic waste, often leading to their death.

The green sea turtle population has been declining for many years because humans have hunted them for food, materials and medicine; polluted their habitats; collected eggs from beaches to sell or eat; built hotels on nesting beaches; accidentally killed turtles with boats or nets; and trapped them in fishing gear such as lobster traps and crab pots.

Green sea turtles play an essential role in the ecosystem in which they live. They help to improve the health and growth of the sea grass because they trim the top of it, leaving the roots of the plant intact. The healthy sea grass beds that the turtles provide give habitat and feeding grounds for many species of fish and crustaceans. And that’s just one example!

"Dave the Puffin"

Inspired by a poignant photograph captured by photographer Carl Bovis, I created this painting. The image of 'Poor Dave,' as affectionately named by Bovis, struck a chord with me, reflecting the solemn reality faced by this endangered species. I depicted Dave's somber expression as a reminder of the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

With its large, orange bill and black-banded feathers, it's easy to spot this cute little bird amongst others. They are monogamous (mate for life) and give bi-parental care to their young.

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, the population size in Europe is estimated and projected to decrease by 50-79% during 2000-2065. As Europe holds more than 90% of the global population, the projected declines are globally significant.

The combined impact of predation by invasive species, pollution, food shortages caused by the depletion of fisheries and adult mortality in fishing nets, are suspected to be the cause of the rapid decline of the species.

Conclusion

The plight of these creatures serves as a stark reminder of our impact on the environment. By raising awareness and taking action, we can help protect these vulnerable species and preserve the natural beauty of our world for future generations. Let's work together to make a difference.

Leave a comment to let me know what you think about my works and/or the threatened species topic, I would love to hear from you!