Nature Canada

Endangered Species Print Project — the Art of Wildlife

This weekend I was pointed to a really cool art project (thanks Mark!) that raises awareness, and appreciation, of species at risk. It’s called the Endangered Species Print Project, the brainchild of two graduates from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Jenny Kendler and Molly Schafer. As they explain on their web site, the two artists bonded over their shared “nature-geekery” to produce limited-edition art prints of critically endangered species, and donate 100% of the sales to conservation organizations who work to save wildlife.

The number of prints available corresponds with the remaining animal or plant populations. So, for example, 140 prints of the Vancouver Marmot are on sale because there are only 140 marmots left in the wild.

Their selections are global — Madagascar Fish-Eagle! Amur Leopard! — but naturally I began to think about which Canadian species I’d like to see receive this artistic treatment.

Right away, Ord’s kangaroo rat. As cute as it is endangered (in my opinion), this nocturnal rodent occupies a small area among the mixed grasslands of southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta. And of course, it’s one of the nearly 20 federally listed species at risk that reside within Suffield National Wildlife Area, where we’ve been working to halt plans to expand shallow gas well development for the last several years.

Other Suffield candidates — the burrowing owl, or the small-flowered sand verbena.

Or what about other, better known endangered species, like the whooping crane? Or Blanding’s turtle?

Sadly, there are over 585 species to choose from in Canada, species who are currently edging toward extinction according to the scientific Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. As recently in November, the Committee added the chestnut-collared longspur, the bogbean buckmoth and the basking shark.

We’re now five days into the International Year of Biodiversity, when organizations around the world will be making a concerted effort to raise greater awareness about the plight of endangered species and the important place they have in rich, healthy ecosystems. I think projects like these are an interesting way of presenting the issue and, hopefully, sparking support for the cause of nature conservation.

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