New York City, New York Nov 12, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - Sketch for Survival is a wildlife art exhibition with a difference. The initiative is the idea of UK conservation charity Explorers against Extinction. The organizers asked wildlife artists and celebrities to help them raise awareness about the illegal wildlife trade and the threat of species extinction by donating a 26-minute sketch or other original artwork of an endangered species because an elephant is poached for its tusks in the wild every 26 minutes.
The earth’s sixth mass extinction is underway, scientists say, with species becoming extinct at a more rapid rate than ever before. All five species of rhino are endangered and just 4,000 tigers remain, down from 40,000 a century ago. Explorers against Extinction, a charitable trust promoting the conservation of rare and endangered species, want to connect with the explorer within us. From young to old, whether you explore your local beach, far-flung destinations, or vicariously from an armchair, the charity wants you to join them in making a stand against species extinction and they decided this touring wildlife art exhibition would be an excellent vehicle for people to do just that as trustee Sara White explains, "We have some beautiful wildlife artworks in this year's collection - all are available to buy via online auction at very affordable prices. You can purchase an original piece - something you really love - and you'll be able to see it on the wall for years to come and be reminded of how you contributed to frontline conservation. I like to call it art with heart. "
The proceeds from the auction of artwork at the end of the international exhibition tour support important frontline conservation projects.
The headline project this year is an elephant anti-poaching initiative with non-profit African Parks in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Garamba, a UNESCO World Heritage site used to be home to more than 22,000 elephants but today only 1200 remain. A new anti-poaching canine unit will better equip Garamba’s teams to address the threat.
As John Barrett, General Manager of Garamba National Park says, “It is a very exciting time as we open our working dogs programme in Garamba National Park. We see enormous potential in the current approach employed by our Law Enforcement division and adding a tremendous detection capability, like that offered by working dogs, will be a key addition to the Park’s overall law enforcement strategy and ability to confront illegal wildlife trafficking. We are grateful for the support of the EU and Explorers against Extinction in enabling this to take place.”
The charity is also supporting Fauna & Flora International by donating funds to Tiger Conservation and Protection Units in Sumatra.
Explorers against Extinction has been inundated with support for its 2018 initiative, receiving 476 artworks from more than 30 different nationalities representing well over sixty rare and endangered species around the globe, including elephant, rhino and tiger – the three species most at risk from the billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade which has taken the lives of over 100 rangers in the last 12 months alone. The illegal wildlife trade is the third biggest global trade after narcotics and human trafficking.
Sara White continues, "This is a critical time. Public opinion can push governments to do more to protect threatened wildlife. By shining a spotlight on species extinction with Sketch for Survival we can reach a wide audience and help to effect real change."
Professional artists supporting the campaign include many from the US and Canada: A.E London, Robert Bateman, Guy Combes, Terry Isaac, Carl Brenders and Rebecca Latham.
Celebrity contributors include the world’s most famous living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Oscar winners Nick Park, Dames Judi Dench, and Helen Mirren, actor Richard E Grant, best-selling international author Frederick Forsyth and comedian, actor and presenter Stephen Fry.
The Sketch for Survival exhibition tour and the online auction runs until 25 November visiting seven different venues including the Explorers Club and the Salmagundi Club, both Manhattan, New York USA.
Further details at explorersagainstextinction.co.uk
Media Contact
Explorers against Extinction sara@realafrica.co.uk 07801439693 FREEHAND NEW YORKN http://www.explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/
