@namu-the-orca / namu-the-orca.tumblr.com
Do you remember my motley of marine friends from earlier this year? They were (indirectly) for Project UK, which aims to raise awareness and help fishers better reduce and identify bycatch, especially endangered species.
The full guide - including my illustrations - is out now! You can see it HERE. And here is Project UK's website, outlining the work they do. I think it's pretty neat to see the good work being done, and my artwork out in the wild, hopefully contributing!
Last year I made two paintings for the Porpoise Conservation Society, featuring the almost extinct Vaquita. One was an illustration of the species, the other a painting of a mother and calf in their natural habitat. Now, it’s the turn of the Burmeister’s porpoise to star in a similar set of paintings. Here, a mother and calf (out of view) chase a school of Chilean silversides in their home waters off South America. Expect some updates soon :)
Like Vaquitas, Burmeister’s are in trouble due to human activities. They suffer from being caught as bycatch, but are also killed on purpose for crab bait. Despite these serious threats, we know very little about their population numbers. Scientists worry Burmeister's may quietly be heading towards extinction outside our knowledge. We hope these paintings can inspire the public to support research efforts in South America. Scientists wish to finally shed some light on this elusive but enigmatic little porpoise, so we can give them the protection they need.
