World Wildlife Day

This year I will be posting

about things I believe in and support.

You and I--we create more than arts and crafts...

we create the world

we live in.

It is astonishing and disconcerting

 to realize that we are living with 

only HALF the population

of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians 

and fish that we had in 1970.

It is important to recognize that this 

actually puts humans at risk as well.

I want to live on a planet populated

by the awesome and glorious diversity

of animals that a power much greater

than us saw fit to create!

So, I painted this tiger in gouache

to celebrate World Wildlife Day.

Human consumption of animals--

whether killing for food or trophy--

and destruction of forests are the

biggest reasons for the alarming declines

in animal populations around the globe.

BUT...we can make a difference!

The wild tiger population increased

last year for the first time in conservation 

history due to the efforts of 

governments, communities, and NGO's.

We have power and we can use it for good.

Our awareness and financial support of these

efforts, reduction in eating meat,

reduced energy consumption, and

boycotting any exotic animal products

can help turn around this unsustainable

trend of destruction.

Find out more at the World Wildlife Fund.

and by the way...

The Wildly Original Link party
will start up again this week after
an extended holiday break!