Documenting species in decline
Amur Leopard
The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a leopard subspecies native to the Primorye region of southeastern Russia and Jilin Province of northeast China, and is classified as Critically Endangered since 1996 by the IUCN.
There is very little information about the number of Amur leopards in the wild in 1900. We can estimate that they would have been in the region of 500 based on habitat loss and human population growth. Estimates today range between 19 and 30 individuals remaining in the wild.
They are threatened by poaching, new roads, exploitation of forests and climate change.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_leopard
Atlantic Sturgeon
The Atlantic Sturgeon was extremely abundant in north America when the first settlers arrived and has since been overfished almost to extinction.
The Atlantic Sturgeon is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
A population assessment in 2005 estimated 2,000 individuals remain. Bycatch is estimated to have taken around 200 fish per year since then. It is estimated that between 20-750 native wild adult fish remain. We have chosen to show 300 in our artwork.
Threats include bycatch, pollution and other human impacts to habitat.
References
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/230/0
Blue Whale
The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, weighing as much as 200 tons (approximately 33 elephants. It is the largest animal ever known to have lived.
The blue whale is classified as endangered by the IUCN.
Pre whaling blue whale populations were estimated to be 275,000, today population numbers are estimated at 10,000 worldwide.
Since the ban on whaling population numbers are slowly increasing, however threats include impacts with seafaring vessels, global sea temperatures rising and the resultant impact to krill food sources as well as military sonar and accumulation of PCBs and other toxins from human activities entering the food chain.
References
http://worldwildlife.org/species/blue-whale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whale
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2477/0
Bluefin Tuna
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is an apex predator and is one of the largest and fastest of the worlds fish. It is found throughout the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is classified as endangered by the IUCN.
Stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna are estimated to have fallen by at least 51% since 1970. Exact numbers are not known but it is estimated there are as few as 40,000 left in the wild.
Overfishing is the primary threat that the Tuna faces.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_bluefin_tuna
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21860/0
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au
http://worldwildlife.org/species/bluefin-tuna
Giant Panda
140x140cm. Ink and acrylic on canvas $5,500. To purchase please contact us
This work is on loan to the WWF in Australia as a thank you for their continued efforts to protect the species and the environment that we share.
Found in the wild in south-central China in mountain areas.
The giant panda is classified as endangered by the IUCN.
Up to 3000 Pandas could have existed in the wild in the early 1900s. By the 1970s this number had fallen to roughly 1000. Conservation programs have since brought the number up to an estimated 1500.
Pandas are threatened by human population growth and the impact to their natural habitat.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda
http://worldwildlife.org/species/giant-panda
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/712/0
Javan Rhinoceros
The Javan rhinoceros was once the most widespread of Asian rhinoceroses, ranging from the islands of Java and Sumatra, throughout Southeast Asia and into China and India.
The Javan rhino is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
They are now critically endangered with only one known population in the wild estimated to number as few as 35 individuals. There are no individuals in captivity. In the early 1900s hunting had already taken its toll and numbers are estimated to have been only 500.
Along with loss of habitat, poaching is considered to be the main reason for the decline of the Javan rhinoceros. Rhino horn is particularly valuable in traditional Chinese medicine, fetching up to USD$30,000 per kilogram on the black market.
References
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19495/0
http://www.savetherhino.org
http://worldwildlife.org/species/javan-rhino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javan_rhino
Leatherback Turtle
The Leatherback sea turtle is found primarily in the open ocean, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the southern tip of Africa.
Globally, Leatherback status according to IUCN is listed as Vulnerable, but many subpopulations (such as in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic) are Critically Endangered.
Leatherback turtle populations have dropped more than 80% from an estimated 150,000 in the early 1900s down to just 35,000 nesting females today.
Major threats to Leatherback turtles include habitat loss and degradation, collection of eggs and meat for consumption and bycatch.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherback_sea_turtle
http://worldwildlife.org/species/leatherback-turtle
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6494/0
http://www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=leatherback
Mountain Gorilla
The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other is found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The mountain gorilla is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
In the 1900's an estimated 1500 mountain gorillas existed in the wild. They reached a low of 620 in 1989. As a result of conservation efforts the estimated total number of mountain gorillas is now 880.
Decline of the population is a result of pollution, habitat destruction and fragmentation, poaching, agriculture, and the introduction of diseases. All of these are due to human population growth.
References
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39994/0
http://www.awf.org
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au
http://wwf.panda.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org
Polar Bear
For Sale. 142x142cm. Ink and acrylic on canvas
The polar bear is the worlds largest terrestrial carnivore. Technically a marine mammal because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean.
Polar bears are classifed as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Polar bears have recently rebounded in some areas meaning that their total population is now at around 22,000 individuals.
Climate change remains the greatest threat to polar bear populations. Sea ice volume is decreasing at an alarming rate based on current statistics and this will have a direct and significant effect on polar bear habitats.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear
http://worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22823/0
Sumatran Elephant
The Sumatran Elephant is native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is one of three sub-species of the Asian elephant.
The Sumatran elephant is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
The population of Sumatran elephants has declined by at least 80% in the last 3 generations (about 75 years). The number of Sumatran elephants in the wild in 1900 was in the region of 400,000, today this number has dropped to an estimated 2400.
The main factors influencing decline are habitat loss and degradation as well as poaching. More than 69% of potential elephant habitat has been lost in the last 25 years. Remaining potential habitat areas are so fragmented that the individual blocks of 250km2 or less are too small to maintain viable elephant populations.
References
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/199856/0
http://wwf.panda.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_elephant
http://worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-elephant
http://www.elephantjournal.com
Sumatran Tiger
The Indonesian island of Sumatra is home to the smallest surviving sub species of tiger, distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats.
The Sumatran tiger is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
From an estimate of 1,000 tigers in the wild in 1978, population estimates are now only 400 individuals in the wild.
Threats to Sumatran tigers are rampant poaching and habitat loss with no sign of improvement.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_tiger
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/tigers/about_tigers/sumatran_tiger/
https://worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-tiger