Art - An Emotional Take on Saving
Philippine Endangered Animals
By: Kenzie Yango
Description and Rationale
Art is a language spoken across all ethnicities and cultures, and in its various sub forms, can be used in countless ways to create different messages to the viewers mind. The emotive power of a simple canvas of a dying animal can be colossal depending on who is looking and what they are looking for. For Filipinos, they tend to be a very romantic culture, and if this passion could be directed towards the plight of many of the endangered animals of this country, a great change could be made in the Philippine ecosystem. This issue is important because the Philippine has a great number of critically endangered animals that, without action, could turn some beautiful and helpful animals extinct.
What kind of art would the public best respond to? How might the public respond to the artwork? Where would be the best place to showcase this kind of art to attract the most amounts of people with similar views as the art? What kind of animals would serve as the best subject to draw an audience’s attention and emotion? Would endangered animals in the Philippines be the best subject to attract the public? Is there a line between sympathy and disgust that should not be crossed? Does it help to label aspects of the drawing to assist people to understand the message trying to be put across?
Is there a way to control the kind of messages that are communicated by the canvases to show in peoples lives? Art has the potential to stimulate an invisible, intangible thought. The concept of that thought or emotion making the leap from the invisible world of the mind to the physical world as an action is the goal of art. Do some animals mean more to the Philippine culture than others? According to Philippine law, the killing of a Philippine Eagle or the smuggling of Tarsiers is punishable by prison. This kind of punishment shows the attachment of the Philippines to its animals and its wish to keep its natural inhabitants alive strong. If just more people could be involved in this goal, it might just happen. Has there been a similar project done like this? In Malaysia, 2008, a scientist created a “Biosphere” which was a mixture of art and science to replicate the Malaysian ecosystem to bring awareness to the state of their ecosystem. Whether it has worked or not is still in progress.
The initial purpose of this project will be to send a message to the Philippine public addressing the brutality we use on our animals through a series of two emotive canvases. By using simple themes of “What’s Wrong With You, What Did You Do?” and “Pointless Punishment” being illustrated though traditional pencil art and shading to create an emotional and intense sympathy for the audience. Without the use of colour, it will further add depth to the canvases
It is hoped that through the stimulated emotion created in people, that they will also realize the state that the Philippine wildlife is in and will take steps themselves to help improve it
.
main table of contents...
Biology
Common Names and Synonyms
The Palawan Bearcat is also called the Arcticsis binturong. Locals in Palawan call in the Manturon or Binturon, but to those located outside of the Philippines it is generally just called the Asian Bearcat. The common name "Bearcat" is because of its similar charictaristics to both bears and cats when in fact it is neither.
Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class – Mammalia (mammal)
Order – Carnivora (Meat eating mammal)
Family - Viverridae (nocturnal, resemble long nose cats)
Genus – Arctictis (bearcat)
Species - A. Binturong (bearcat)Your data here
main table of contents...
Morphology and Physical Description
The Binturong can grow to be 1.4 meters from head to tail, with its tail in almost equal length to its body. Though with a bear-like structure, it is actually more
suited to the size of a large cat, weighing from 20lb – 60lb. While looking like a docile creature, it has razor-sharp claws and teeth similar to those of a wolverine. Its burly and prehensile tail allows the animal to shelve itself in trees by hanging from branches.
The Palawan Bearcat has an elongated body head broad posterior becoming small and pointed toward the face. The ears are small and rounded and it has small eyes, prehensile long tail and short legs. A thick layer of black fur covers the Bearcat’s back and limbs while reddish brown lies over its stomach area. In addition to its dark fur, the Binturong is nocturnal, which makes it even harder to spot them in the wild. Uniquely, their ears have a white lining of fur around the edges of the ear and white whiskers that generally grow long enough to reach the side of its head.
The Bearcat is nocturnal and only likes to inhabit itself in dense vegetation, usually in the forests of Palawan. It sleeps in the high tree branches, using its tail and sharp claws; it jumps from tree to tree in search of food or shelter. In climbing up and down trees, the Palawan Bearcat can rotate its back legs backwards to allow it to have increased grip on the tree.
The Binturong anatomy is long in body structure with stout legs. Near the bearcats tail is a tiny sac or gland that contains civet, a valuable odorous substance used as a base for the world's most expensive perfumes.
main table of contents...
Getting Food
The Palawan Bearcat is an omnivore which inhabits in the thick vegetation of Palawan in the Philippines. Feeding on fruits and animals, the Binturong is hated by local farmers as they often kill their poultry or break in and take fruit. They are like the raccoons of the rainforest. They are known to eat carrion, small invertebrates, fish, birds, eggs, leaves, and shoots. One favourate delicacy of theirs is the cockroach.
“He eats fruits and table scraps but I found his true weakness. There was a big one of those flying cockroaches annoying us so I stepped on it and brought it over to see if the bearcat was interested. He lunged for it. If not for the chicken wire he would have clamped down on my fingers for sure. Once he got repositioned he gulped it down with gusto. It must be a natural favorite because he didn’t tear into prawns or chicken or vegetables…” (http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/palawan/palawan-bearcat.html)
main table of contents...
Reproduction
With a maximum of six offspring, the Binturong is a sexual animal and goes through different periods of fertilization. First it goes through the estrous period for 81 days, and then a gestation period for 91 days, though its breeding is not seasonal. They are also capable of embryonic diapause. This means that females can choose to have a delayed implantation to reproduce at the best time concurring with environmental conditions. Female’s usual age to first conceive is 30 months. Often times, the females rap their tail around the male's torso or tail base to secure him in the mounted position.
main table of contents...
Environmental Factors
Near the top of its food chain, it is only hunted by humans for game or for other factors. The Bearcat is nocturnal and only likes to inhabit itself in dense vegetation, usually in the forests of Palawan. It sleeps in the high tree branches, using its tail and sharp claws; it jumps from tree to tree in search of food or shelter.
main table of contents...
Origin and Distribution
Though mostly endemic to the Philippines, few other species can be located in other forest canopies in rainforests of countries like India, Nepal, Thailand, Indochina, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries. It is only located in tropical forests.
main table of contents...
Importance to People
The name bearcat is used as mascots throughout various collegiate institutions such as Will Willamette University, the University of Cincinnati, McKendree University, Baruch College, Binghamton University, and Southwest Baptist University.
The Binturong is also a key animal in seed dispersal as it is the only known animal that can digest the seed coat of a Strangler Fig, a key rainforest tree. Because of their appetite for rodents, they serve as a good predator control for some farmers. Its easily domesticated personality makes it a regular pet for some. They are also looked at as a culinary delicacy and good medical source. Some people also use their skins or fun as decorations or hats.
main table of contents...
Survivability and Endangered Status
Bearcats are labeled as vulnerable on their conservation status. Though they are not very high on the endangered list, deforestation in Palawan and other rainforests is causing rapid decrease in their numbers. As well as deforestation, they are hunted to be eaten, to make caps, wraps, coats, and decoration. These factors have heavily affected these mammals and if not protected in time, they could be gone without anyone realizing.
main table of contents...
Potential Solutions
If emotional art makes an impact of the mind set of individuals, can the individuals make an impact on society to help protect these animals? There are many ways to save the endangered animals endemic to the Philippines, but there are not always so many people who are willing to do something about it. If enough people could create enough influence, word could eventually spread to higher authority and laws could change. It is the small things that a big groups of people do that change the world, not big things that small groups of people do. Below are three possibilities that could help save the rare species in the Philippines with an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages for each. Along with them are evidences of similar strategies that have helped save other endangered species.
Possibility 1 -
Wildlife Reserve
“WWF has a bold plan to make a lasting difference in the fate of our world. World Wildlife Fund is unique because it partners around the world and works at every level, from on-the-ground conservation to global policy, creating innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.”
(http://animal.discovery.com/roar/partners/wwf.html)
The World Wildlife Fund takes donations and through business partners works to protect endangered animals in the Philippines. Some ways that they try to protect these animals is setting up camps and wildlife preserves to help increase population of the animals. The Philippines already has wildlife and national parks, and through increased donations, these parks could help populate the Philippines with endangered animals like the Philippine Eagle, tarsiers, tamaraw, and Visayan deer.
Advantages:
1. First of all, with all of the villages out in Visayan, Palawan, and many of the other thousands of Islands, some animals are only home to one island. The building of wildlife reserves in other areas of the country could help diversify the animals and give them new and maybe even better habitats. Also, there would be no poachers in the new habitat set for the animals.
2. In removing certain animals from certain islands, for example, the Binturong from Palawan, poachers would be forced to switch their hunting to a more primitive animal with a greater abundance for capture sake. As for the animal trade in the Philippines, poachers on the island of Palawan would no longer have a import to barter with and would therefore render the poachers and useless. If this continued with different animals, poaching may eventually die off.
Disadvantages:
1. In order to move a large enough population of animals into a big enough park that could hold them and all the necessities to live would cost a fortune. It would also take time to build the park, maintain it, and transport all the animals to and from the park. Without the right security, nothing would stop poachers elsewhere to form and break into the park.
2. The movement of animals to other habitats away from their natural one could actually risk depopulation and hurt the environment around the key things that the animal contributes to the environment. This could ultimately hurt the Philippines more than help it
main table of contents...
Possibility 2 -
Animal Adoption
“We are implementing anti-poaching patrols and strengthening rhino sanctuaries across Africa. Adopting a rhino makes an excellent gift and is a meaningful to show that you are part of AWF’s rhino recovery effort.“
(http://www.awf.org/content/action/detail/3595)
The AWF program allows people to “adopt” an endangered species for a small price, and in “adopting” these animals you are supporting the saving of these animals. You do not actually get the animal but instead get a certificate and a stuffed animal to show you supported The money goes to help save and protect these animals. If the Philippines used a system like this, with all of the children and respect for money in the Philippines, in adopting these animals they can get a stuffed animal for a good cause.
Advantages:
1. The simple strategy of adopting an animal is easy and helps a lot. There is no need to have a group of people with the same striving sense to save animals but can be many separate individuals and adopt an animal and in the long run create a difference for their country. It is like donating money for a better cause and getting a reward for being a good Samaritan.
2. In order to adopt an animal with a stuffed animal as a reward, it takes people to make those animals which would help employ people and give them working traits that would help with other couriers as well.
Disadvantages:
1. The Philippines has a large population in poverty and since adopting these animals does cost money, it could be to much and might not be effective for those who are in poverty. Often times it is also the poor who resort to poaching for money and for food.
2. It would take a much greater influence than art to strike a human being, especially someone who does not have much money in the first place like a large portion of the Philippines to actually spend money to help the environment. Virtually everything costs something else, and if citizens are already under the pressure of all the other expenses of living then they would not be able to take part in adopting an animal.
main table of contents...
Possibility 3 -
Boycotting Poached Goods
Through enough people, if affected to help make a change, the small thing like boycotting poached goods like Binturong hats and coats could help make a difference in the Philippine wildlife. Poachers make their fortune by selling furs or by using the different parts of animals for medicinal purposes or for making perfumes or clothes. For example, the Binturongs civet sac contains an odor used in many exotic perfumes. If people just stopped buying those certain items tough, they would no longer be at high demand and the killing of endangered animals would be useless and would eventually stop. Through ignoring certain goods like those that come from endangered animals, it would help ensure less killing of them.
Advantages:
1. Boycotting goods is a good way to decrease the demand of poached goods. Usually the items that are created from endangered animals are exotic and very expensive anyway and by not buying it, would save you money and probably save an animal as well.
2. Unlike other methods, the boycotting of items does not cost any money and helps send a message to the creator as well. It could eventually lead to the stopping of poaching.
Disadvantages:
1. The biggest disadvantage of boycotting goods is that in order to make a really big difference and get the signal out to the poachers, is through a lot of people who just stop buying. Ultimately it might take everyone to just top buying the poached goods in order to really make a difference.
2. The other disadvantage is that it might cause poachers to work even harder to create a better form of the item like perfume which would take more and more killing of the innocent animals.
Action Step
Pointless Punishment
Using pen and ink I created two emotive portraits displaying animal cruelty to endangered animals here in the Philippines.
The first one shows the simple brutality of animal slaughter. Titled “Pointless Punishment”, the picture shows a man slitting a Visayan Spotted Deer’s throat after shooting it three times beforehand. It is divided into dark and light and across the top is trail of blood that moves from the light side over to the dark side. The trail of blood is about to drip into a pool of blood hat streamed from the dying deer over into the dark side of the picture. The white represents the animals and innocent blood and the dark represents the consumption of the white, of the innocent. As the more animals die meaninglessly, the more drops of innocent blood drop into the collective amount of innocence the dark side has consumed, and therefore the wider that the dark ill expand.
What is Wrong With You, What did You do?
The second portrait shows the massacre of the Tamaraw and again the Visayan Spotted Deer. the bottom, words in blood say “R.I.P. (Rest In Peace) Philippines Endangered Animals”. Above the writing is a man mourning and weeping in the blood the lost species. This is supposed to show the aftermath of when we in the Philippines just let things get out of hand, when we will have nothing to do but mourn and blame ourselves for the sins we committed against the world. This piece is titled “What is Wrong With You, What did You do?” The title represents the repentance we will need to do and the forgiveness we will ask for if this ever happens.
Action Step: Informing the Public
For my action step I went out to the Gateway Mall and around the Araneta Coliseum and talked to twenty people about the great problem in the Philippines with the many endemic and endangered animals in the Philippines. I explained different ways that they could help save endangered animals like the Tamaraw, Binturong, and Visayan Deer. Some of the groups I tried to talk to were people who I thought might be involved even a little bit with animal killing like gun stores or clothing stores.
To the left is a picture of a weapon store owner who mainly sold guns and ammunition. I talked to her about the animal brutality and how parts of Philippine culture could be lost if the meaningless killings of this went on. She did not seem to interested in it as guns used to kill animals on a regular basis, but humoured me in any case.
I also went through coffee houses like Starbucks and Figaro, and talked to people on their breaks. This man below at first did not seem to want to have his break interrupted but listened to me nonetheless.
Walking around the mall with large drawings attracted attention which helped talk to people but as many as there were that came up to me, there were few that volunteered to take picture.
main table of contents...
Bibliography
Dutchpickle. "Palawan bearcat." Dutchpickle. 2 Nov. 2007. 4 Apr. 2009
<http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/palawan/palawan-bearcat.html>.
AWF. "Adopt a Rhino." AWF. 11 May 2009
<http://www.awf.org/content/action/detail/3595>.
FASA. "Palawan Bearcat." Western Washington University. 11 May 2009
<http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~fasawwu/resources/endangered/palawan-
bearcat.htm>.
Snipes, Tony. "Culture article." Kreative Kingdom- Non Profit Art Design. 2005. 11
May 2009 <http://kreativekingdom.org/culturearticle.htm>.
"Visayan Spotted Deer." ARKive - a unique collection of thousands of videos,
images and fact-files illustrating the world's species. Ed. Arkive. 2008. 11 May
2009 <http://www.arkive.org/visayan-spotted-deer/cervus-alfredi/info.html>.
"Binturong." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 7 May 2009. 11 May 2009
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binturong>.
Regoniel, Patrick. "The Palawan Bearcat." Scienceray. 30 Mar. 2008. 11 May 2009
<http://www.scienceray.com/Biology/Zoology/The-Palawan-Bearcat.115005>.
"OGROŽANJE ŽIVALI." Arnes. 11 May 2009
<http://www2.arnes.si/~apetek10/ogrozenezivali.html>.
main table of contents...
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.