Threatened Species Painted on London Walls for “Endangered 13”

April 18, 2016 Artists

23,250.

That’s how many wild species are listed as threatened worldwide by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

A newly curated mural project in London aims to begin raising awareness of our behaviors devastating impact on the animal world and to reverse the trend of killing off these species.

Jonsey. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Curlew, Orangutan, Rhino, Blue Whale, Bateleur, Polar Bear, and Grey-Breasted Parakeet are only a handful of animals who are critically endangered or vulnerable according to ecological conservators around the globe and 13 of the UK’s talented artists are creating a campaign about them called “Endangered 13”

“The idea of the project is to raise awareness of species in desperate decline, with many on the brink of extinction,” explains artist Louis Masai, who produced the program along with the environmental art platform Human Nature.

Jonsey. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

“We believe that the choices made in our market driven, consumer orientated, fossil fuelled society are steering us to ever increasing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and species extinction,” says the groups’ manifesto, and the new paintings are ironically painted in London’s Tower Hamlets Cemetery as if to strengthen the dire results.

The artists gathered on the freshly grassy bank along the railway arches last weekend to create their missives of tribute and warning, each featuring one species that is currently endangered.

Jonsey. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

According to Mr. Masai and organizers their goal is to “see these species rise in number and their natural habitats saved in the next ten years.”

Our special thanks to photographer Ian Cox for sharing these brand new exclusive photos of the fresh murals and some of the artists at work for BSA readers.

Participating artists: Andy Council, ATM, Carrie Reichardt, Dr Zadok, Faunagraphic, Fiya One, Jonesy, Jim Vision, Louis Masai, Rocket 01, Vibes, Von Leadfoot and Xenz.

ATM. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Vibes. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Louis Masai. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Fauna Graphic. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Jim Vision AKA Probs. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Probs. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Xenz. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

FiyaOne. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Panther Boy. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Andy Council. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Carrie Reichardt. Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Endangered 13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

Endangered 13. The signage above the art is by Von Leadfoot pictured here with words by Tanya Dee. Endangered13. London. April 2016. (photo © Ian Cox)

For more information please see www.humannatureshow.com/endangered13.

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This article is also published on The Huffington Post