The Animals Only Voice

A group of young art students were surprised to discover that British Columbia does not have endangered species legislation! Proudly claiming the title of, "Beautiful BC" and, "The Best Place on Earth," it seems ironic that British Columbia is failing to protect the over 1600 species at risk! From the grizzly bears to the great blue herons to the rattle snakes; BC is the most biologically diverse province in the country. These artworks represent the students initiative to take action; to recognize the species that make British Columbia so diverse.

The compelling artworks bring attention to both the beauty and the plight of many vulnerable animals in BC.  To make their images authentic, the students researched their animals on the internet.  They found information on habitat, behaviours, threatened ecosystems, and population declines.  The students looked at the problems facing these animals and considered some possible solutions. 

After gathering the necessary information, students needed to compose their images to convey this information; to grab the  viewers attention and force them to think. Some artists included words or symbols to strengthen their message, while others considered colour combinations and  watercolour techniques to further enhance their images. The result is a richly varied impression of some of the beautiful species currently endangered or at risk in British Columbia.

We hope these paintings speak to you.
"We are the animals only voice!"
 

Colours of Pollution

The animal that is featured in my watercolour painting is a Red-necked Phalarope.  The Phalarope are soon to be endangered in British Columbia. In my painting, the chosen colours represent the pollution in our waterways that is caused by cities and agricultural run-off. Pollution is the main reason why these animals are threatened. The buildings in the background are so dark and bold to represent how industry and agriculture have such a harsh impact on these beautiful birds. I feel that the Red-necked Phalarope needs more recognition, along with all other endangered species. I hope that our future generation has the chance to embrace the beauty of this bird.

Danya, Grade 10

No Place to Live

I did this painting to show how our growing cities are destroying what is left of the homes of many animals. When we cut down forests we are destroying their homes and, for some species such as the Northern Saw-Whet Owl, we are destroying their breeding grounds. The Northern Saw-Whet Owl is the smallest species of owl in B.C., they also need trees to give birth to their young. If the cities continue to grow, many species will either die or leave B.C.. Do you want beautiful B.C. to turn into devastated B.C.?

Harry, Grade 10

Almost Gone

A Barn Owls' perfect living environments are open lowlands that include plantations, various forest types and farmlands. The two main reasons why so many Barn Owls are endangered is one, traffic; and two shelter.  Without being able to rely on a barn for shelter, Barn Owls cannot survive our painful winters. We could save many by setting up nests to protect them from the cold, and to provide a safe environment.

Monika, Grade.9

A Rare Beauty

I picked the Western Painted turtles because they are cool and colourful. The painted turtles live in habitats such as ponds, marshes, small lakes, ditches and sluggish streams that usually have muddy bottoms and lots of aquatic plants. These turtles usually live in areas from southern BC to Nova Scotia, and all the way south to Kansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The risks to these endangered species are that they require- wetlands and ponds for hiding and foraging. This habitat is found in very few places within their range because of construction. Deterioration and destruction of their habitat, through pollution, waterway interference and urbanization, is their major threat. The habitats for the Western Painted turtles are usually modified to fit human needs and not theirs. I don't want to see these turtles disappear from the earth forever because of us. Changes we can make are protecting where they live. Taking their homes away from them, prevents the turtles from reproducing. We also need to avoid disturbing them or their habitats. We need to restore their habitats and remove their predators from these areas. I learned that Western Painted turtles are cool by going to a bible camp called SYC and kayaking in the Gardom Lake with my friends. We found turtles swimming in the lake; it was so much fun! I LOVE WESTERN PAINTED TURTLES! There are only 49 different painted turtle species and only 800 to 900 painted turtles estimated left.

Savannah, Grade 9

Sticker Book

In my painting I'm trying to show people how fragile the present is, and how our actions now can effect the future to an extreme. The hand and the sticker page are meant to represent the future and that children may not be able to experience the animals that we have today. My art is based on the Mountain Caribou, the Mountain Caribou is a critically endangered species. Within the last decade their population has dropped about 25%, from approximately 2200 in the late 1990's to approximately 1900 today. This species is linked to many other endangered species and if the caribou were to go extinct it may lead to the disappearance of 21 other species. The Mountain Caribou is globally unique to South eastern British Columbia so if we don't protect it, who will? The main threats to the caribou are habitat loss and fragmentation. Logging and back country recreation are the main causes of both of these. People need to take action and help support these unique animals.

Katie, Grade 9
For more information on the Mountain Caribou go to  www.mountaincaribou.ca/

I Am a KIller Whale

The animal that I chose to paint is a Killer Whale. This mammal is endangered because of humans. Our sewage and toxins drain into the oceans where they live, along with air pollutants coming over from Asia. These risks make their prey extinct too.
In my painting, the flowing parts through the water highlight the powerful words written in them. The words are suposed to be from the whales opinion and how it feels. There is only one whale in my painting because it shows how alone the mammal is, swimming through the dark ocean water.  The Killer Whale needs our help to stay protected, which means we need to give it a clean ecosystem.

Maddy, Grade 10

Bears

My picture represents the poaching of bears for sport and the risks to them from urbanization. Many grizzlies are shot and killed either for fun, or for wandering into urban areas. With human civilization expanding, the habitat of these animals are being diminished at uncontrollable rates, thus leaving them no choice, but to head into our towns and cities.  Everyday many of these bears are killed and no one seems to give a second thought of it. When a starving bear is caught in peoples garbage looking for food, just to stay alive, it is considered a threat and must be dealt with. The concept for my art was to show the double standards between humans and animals; by switching their roles and showing people what our actions are like from the other end of the barrel.

Sarah, Grade 9

One Flame

My animal is the Flammulated Owl; a small bird that weighs roughly  55 to 65 grams. This bird is at risk from our lumber industries, as well as pesticides and poisons. This art work shows an Owl in a world were everything is fading away and blending into nothing. It symbolizes the Flammulatd Owl's loss of home and their depravity of life. Us humans might realize, one day, that we could have stopped and changed our ways of dealing with these animals, but by then it will be too late.

Taylor, Grade 9

Just Think

The animal that I chose is a Barn Owl. The barn owl in BC is in grave danger. Its food supply is being killed off by pesticides and its home is being destroyed (www.protectbiodiversity.ca). Many people say that the eyes are the doorway to the soul. This is why I made the eyes on my owl powerful. I want people to realize what this animal has experience - has a soul. In my art, I made some words more prominent than others: "think", "life", "food", "home", and "saved". These words outline what is most important to the barn owl and they are intended to make us think. "Saved" is my favourite word. It means there is a chance, not only for the Barn Owl to survive, but for other endangered species too. I can only hope that in the future this beautiful species will be all around us. Just think about how we will be affected when our native species are no longer with us.

Gabie, Grade 10

Spirit Bear Facing Extinction

In my artwork, the spirit bear depicted has its four paws submerged in oil. The spirit bears are greatly threatened by a proposal to make a pipeline across their coast. Behind the spirit bear are several tall buildings, this is to show that we are taking over their home and logging their habitat for our own selfish reasons. I hope people understand that these beautiful bears and other mystical animals must be protected and we must take action or we may never see these creatures again. Spirit bears live solely on the coast of British Columbia and are known for their unique white coat. If we continue to pillage and log this coast, we will wipe out the salmon, the spirit bears source of food, and will be taking their ideal hibernating and denning habitat. This animal faces extinction if we do not stop logging this coast or using it for our selfish wants. Legislation could improve their situation by making laws to protect this coast and the small population (200) of spirit bears left in the world. I would like to see the endangered animals of BC living in harmony with us. We need to respect and care for these animals, not rob them of their lives. I have learnt from this process that we can take action and we must do something to save these fast dying numbers of endangered species.

Heather, Grade 9

Surrounded

In my painting, you see a bird flying, and in the background, there are blotches of colour. The colour represents all the pollution that the bird can't ever fly away from. I chose to paint the Red Knot because it is one of the species that isn't super extravagant or attention demanding. The species that are more in the background are the ones that are more likely to go extinct because no one is overly concerned about them. I think we need to raise awareness about endangered species in BC, because whatever humans do will affect the lives of those animals.

Jillian, Grade 10