World Wildlife Conservation Day

Every December 4th is World Wildlife Conservation day. AS such I felt it would be good to repost my illustration of the vaquita, one of the most endangered animals on the earth today. There is an estimated 30 left in the wild.  They live in the Gulf of California and are threatened by illegal fishing. For more information on what the World Wild Life Organization is doing and what you can do Visit the World Wildlife Conservation Day page and Worldwildlife.org 

Bow Tie Guy of the Day: Saiga

Saiga (ˈsīgə)

Part of my Endangered Species Series, the Saiga used to inhabit large areas of the Eurasian Steppe, a temperate grassland and savanna area through Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Hunting, habitat loss and severe winters have placed these antelope on the critically endangered list. You can find out more about the saiga and what is being done to help them at The World Wildlife Federation.

They are not the most attractive creature because to the large nostrils that point down.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Vaquita

The Vaquita, the smallest of the porpoises, can be up to five feet long. It is the rarest and the most endangered marine mammal. Discovered in 1958, there are estimated to be only 100 left. Over half of their population were destroyed in the last three years. They live only in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico and are mostly threatened by nets used by illegal fishers.

For more information on the Vaquita you can visit worldwildlife.org 

Bow Tie Guy of the Week–Narwhal (IF Sharp)

Narwhal (ˈnärwəl)

The narwhal is a small whale that lives in the arctic. For many it is thought of as the unicorn of the sea. The horn is actually a twisted tusk that develops from one of its teeth. Only the male grows the tusk. Sometimes it can grow as long as ten feet. In a few instances two tusks are grown. 

This is the first of my endangered species bow tie guys. The World Wildlife Organization lists them as near threatened there are more than 80,000 in existence today. They are threatened by climate change, oil and gas development and ocean noise. If you want to find out more about this wonderful sea creature you can visit the World Wildlife Federation's website here. 

This is also submitted for Illustration Friday's word “sharp.”