Liberian Wildlife
In 2023, children from Year 6, Ryhope Junior School, Ryhope Colliery, Sunderland completed an endangered species project studying artist and founder of Drawing for the Planet, Jane Lee McCracken's art. Jane visited the school to see the children's artwork and exhibition, and to deliver the Liberian Wildlife workshop for Drawing for the Planet's (DftP) the Chimpanzee Community 2 project, partnered with Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) and Born Free.
During her visit, Jane looked at the children's impressive sketchbooks and discussed the endangered species they had selected to research and draw. Following a Q & A session in the school hall, where Jane and Year 6 exchanged their thoughts about art and wildlife, the children participated in a Biro (ballpoint pen) drawing workshop where they drew vulnerable Liberian species for Chimpanzee Community 2.
Image courtesy of Ryhope Junior School: Jane viewing Mrs. Gould's class's sketchbooks
For Chimpanzee Community 2 Jane has created a composite artwork featuring Year 6's drawings. Scroll down to see the artwork and to learn about the species studied in the workshop, illustrated with drawings by Year 6.
THE PROJECT
Image courtesy, Jenny Desmond: LCRP orphan chimp
The Chimpanzee Community 2 project raises awareness of endangered chimpanzees and funds for LCRP's critically endangered Western chimpanzees, orphaned by the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Children from the USA, the UK and Liberia are participating in Amazing Chimps education workshops delivered by Laura Eastwood, Born Free's Head of Education, and Jenny Desmond, co-founder of LCRP, and Jane's drawing workshops, to create drawings of LCRP's orphan Chimpanzees.
As part of this project DftP introduced the Liberian Wildlife workshops for participants out-with Chimpanzee Community 2, to learn about and draw vulnerable Liberian wildlife, including chimpanzees. The Liberian Wildlife workshops highlight chimpanzees vital role maintaining forests, and the many species that depend on them. Known as Gardeners of the Forest:
"Chimpanzees are humankind’s closest relatives, sharing over 98% of our genetic blueprint, and are highly social and deeply intelligent. A keystone species, these sentient mammals help sustain their forest habitat and thus mitigate climate change as these ‘green lungs’ store carbon and generate oxygen." Born Free
Deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade are decimating Western Chimpanzee populations' with as few as 18,000-65,000 wild individuals remaining. Their decline affects us all. Learn more about Chimpanzee Community 2 here:
THE ARTWORK
Click on the image above to download a PDF of the poster to print or share
Fifty-four children from Year 6 created drawings of 41 Liberian species, including critically endangered Western chimpanzees and forest elephants, and vulnerable leopards. Jane's composite artwork features drawings of 37 species. The artwork places drawings of Western chimpanzees by Isaac and Marlee at the centre of the design surrounded by forest-dwelling Liberian wildlife, symbolising these animals dependancy on chimpanzees as a keystone species.
Jane's poster design is available as a PDF download to raise further awareness of chimpanzees and other vulnerable Liberian wildlife. The artwork key is also available as a downloadable PDF resource. CLICK on the images above and below to download the PDF's.
THE WILDLIFE
LIBERIAN WILDLIFE
Liberia is rich and diverse in wildlife. The International Union for Conservation lists 2,438 animal species inhabiting Liberia on its IUCN Red List of Threatened species with twenty-nine of those endemic to the country. It lists thirty-nine species as critically endangered, eighty as endangered, ninety as vulnerable, and seventy-eight as near threatened.
Many species are vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and hunting, including the little known but critically endangered pygmy hippopotamus, and slender-snouted crocodile. The Liberian Wildlife workshops study a fraction of Liberia’s incredible forest-dwelling species.
Click on species titles below for IUCN Red List information:MAMMALS
WESTERN CHIMPANZEE Pan troglodytes ssp.
Conservation status: CRITICIALLY ENDANGERED
Population: 18,000-65,000, DECREASING
Drawings: Ella (left), Marlee (above left), Emily P. (centre) and Isaac (right)
BIOLOGY
"Chimpanzees share about 99% of our DNA, making them the closest living relative of humans. Some even argue that they should be taxonomically categorised as Homo, the same genus as humans. Chimpanzees are highly intelligent, with complex social structures and distinct cultures. They are also known to make and use tools, including stick tools for the extraction of ants, termites, honey and bees; stone and wood tools to crack nuts; fishing rods created from long branches to fish for algae; and sponges made from leaves. Sick chimps have also been known to eat potentially medicinal plants. Before Jane Goodall’s pioneering studies revealing tool use in chimpanzees, humans believed that toolmaking and use was what made us distinct from other animal species. Now we know that chimps, some birds, and even some fish can make and use tools." Read more: bornfree.org.uk/chimpanzees
AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANT Loxodonta cyclotis
Conservation status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Population: est. 100,000, DECREASING
Drawings: Lewis (above), Gracie (below) and Matilda (right)
BIOLOGY
"Long considered to be a subspecies of the African elephant, the African forest elephant is now considered by many scientists to be its own species — separate from the African savanna or bush elephant. They are smaller than the better-known savanna elephant, have tusks that are straight and point downward, unlike the savanna elephants curved tusks. Bulls sometimes have tusks that almost reach the ground. They have rounded ears while the savanna elephant’s ears are more pointed. This species of the African elephant also has five toenails on each forefoot and four on its hind feet — more similar to that of the Asian elephant." Read more: awf.org/forest-elephant
LEOPARD Panthera pardus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE
Population: DECREASING
Drawings: Millie (left) and Ryhope Student (right)
BIOLOGY
"Leopards benefit from innate stealth, camouflage and lightning speed reactions. Sharp teeth and claws, strong jaws, powerful bodies and acute senses make them accomplished hunters. They are also superb climbers and often drag their kill into trees out of reach of other predators. Leopards, like most big cats, must defend their home range from others. Smell is the most important form of communication and they will spray urine and rub scent on trees and bushes around their territory, as well as leaving scratch marks, to warn other animals to keep away. Leopards are solitary creatures, living and hunting alone – when young, their mothers teach them the skills needed to survive on their own." Read more: bornfree.org.uk/animals/leopards
SERVAL Leptailurus serval
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN
Population: STABLE
Drawing: Year 6 student
BIOLOGY
"Servals are medium-sized wild cats with tawny, black-spotted coats and long necks and long legs that allow them to see over savanna grasses. They also have large ears and an acute sense of hearing. These cat's spotted coats are sometimes marketed as young leopards or cheetahs and can attract a hearty price on the black market. This, as well as their tendency to attack poultry, makes them a target for hunters." Read more: awf.org/serval
AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT Caracal aurata
Conservation status: VULNERABLE
Population: DECREASING
Drawing: Teegan
BIOLOGY
"The African Golden Cat Caracal aurata is one of the least-known felids in the world. About twice the size of a domestic cat, they are medium sized but sturdy, powerful animals, with stout, relatively short legs and large paws. There are two colour forms: golden/reddish brown and silvery/dark slate-grey. Both red and grey phases occur in the same areas, but few melanistic specimens have been recorded. African Golden cats are the only forest-dependent wild cat in Africa, and their least known felid. They are endemic to tropical Africa and found in two widely disjunct populations in west central Africa and along the west coast to the north." Read more: wildcatconservation.org/african-golden-cat
PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS Choeropsis liberiensis
Conservation status: ENDANGERED
Population: 2,000-2499, DECREASING
Drawing: Ethan
BIOLOGY
"Pygmy hippopotamus is nocturnal and solitary, living in lowland primary and secondary forests close to rivers, streams and swamps. It feeds on terrestrial and semi-aquatic plants. Unlike the Hippo, it is a browser rather than a grazer, and feeds nocturnally on roots, water plants and fallen fruit, spending much of the day in the water. Its feet are more adapted to terrestrial life than those of its larger relative, although in other respects they share similar adaptations to aquatic life." Read more: endangeredspeciesinternational.org
RED RIVER HOG Potamochoerus porcus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN
Population: DECREASING
Drawings: Hayden (left) and Corey (right)
BIOLOGY
"Typically associated with rainforest and gallery forest, Red River Hogs have also been observed in other habitats such as dry forest, savanna woodland and cultivated areas, although usually in close proximity to rainforest. Like the Bushpig, Red River Hogs are highly adaptable and may even benefit from the opening up of former forested areas, by the creation of secondary habitats, by the provision of cultivated foods, or by the reductions in the numbers of their natural predators. Read more: iucnredlist.org/redriverhog
JENTINK'S DUIKER Cephalophus jentinki
Conservation status: ENDANGERED
Population: 2,000, DECREASING
Drawing: Layla O.
BIOLOGY
"Jentink’s Duiker occurs predominantly in primary high forest, but it may enter adjacent secondary growth, plantations and farmbush. Its most basic requirements appear to be a diversity of fruiting trees and very dense shelter rather than a specific forest type. [It] feeds on many fruits, including those with hard shells, nuts, stems of tree seedlings and may consume cocoa pods, mangoes and palm nuts in plantations. The major threats to this species are widespread forest destruction (due to, for example, logging and agricultural expansion) and hunting for meat. The influence of hunting on this species is considerable. Read more: iucnredlist.org/jentinksduiker
ZEBRA DUIKER Cephalophus zebra
Conservation status: VULNERABLE
Population: 9,500, DECREASING
Drawing: Tyler
BIOLOGY
"The Zebra Duiker prefers undisturbed primary lowland forest, but also occurs in low mountain and hill forests and sometimes in secondary growth and swidden cultivation. [It is ] considered the least adaptable of all West African duiker species to deforestation and therefore the least likely to survive hunting pressure and habitat degradation...The major threats are habitat destruction and hunting for bushmeat." Read more: iucnredlist.org/zebraduiker
COMMON CUSIMANSE Crossarchus obscurus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Autumn
BIOLOGY
"[Common Cusimanse] is native to West Africa...This mongoose differs from the other social mongooses in that it lives in the high forests of Western Africa and not in the open areas that these other species normally occupy...It eats food found near and in the water's edge, along with the food it finds in the dense ground cover vegetation of the high forests. Crossarchus obscurus is a gregarious species, highly social, and diurnal. These animals tend not to stay in one place for long and will wander in circles over their territories. As they wander, they seek refuge under logs or in hollowed out logs, in thick vegetation, or in burrows that they find. Members of this species has also been known to dig their own burrows or to dig into termite mounds for shelter." Animal Diversity
Read more: iucnredlist.org/commoncusimanse
Drawing: Lucas
BIOLOGY
[This species] is found in rainforest and in forest along the edge waterways. It lives in holes in the roots of large trees, hollow logs, fallen branches, rock crevices, termite mounds and other similar places. It does not dig its own burrows. The species is a nocturnal, and solitary forager, although it dens communally in parties of two to six (sometimes more) animals...This species has a longevity of 15 years." Read more: iucnredlist.org/africanbrushtailedporcupine
Drawing: Ella W.
BIOLOGY
"The African civet is one of the largest members of the mammal family known as viverrids, with mature adults weighing up to 20 kg. Resembling a racoon, the civet has a long neck, pointed snout and a wide head with small eyes and rounded ears. The coat is coarse and wiry with a steady transition of colour from a yellowy brown on the back down to a white underside. They have distinctive white neck stripes and black spots along the shoulders that smear into lines over the back legs. A short mohawk-like stripe of black hair runs all the way down the spine, from the head down to the tip of the tail and stands on end when the civet is excited or scared." Read more: worldlandtrust.org/african-civet
Drawing: Matilda
BIOLOGY
"This adaptable species has been recorded from a very wide range of habitats. It is commonly found in moist and dry tropical rain forest, including evergreen forest habitats in the form of coastal (including mangrove) and riverine forest, through moist and dry savanna and mosaics of these and similar habitat types. Populations can persist in modified habitats and the species is often recorded in urban areas, such as wooded city parks." Read more: iucnredlist.org/africanstrawcolouredfruitbat
WESTERN TREE HYRAX Dendrohyrax dorsalis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Year 6 student
BIOLOGY
A skilful tree climber, this nocturnal, herbivore has course hair and can live up to 14 years. Hyrax means 'Shrew-mouse' in Ancient Greek. Read more: iucnredlist.org/westerntreehyrax
Drawing: Addison (left) and Elly (right)
BIOLOGY
"Potto, also called bush bear, tree bear, or softly-softly, slow-moving tropical African primate. The potto is a nocturnal tree dweller found in rainforests from Sierra Leone eastward to Uganda. It has a strong grip and clings tightly to branches, but when necessary it can also move quickly through the branches with a smooth gliding gait that makes it quite inconspicuous. It feeds on fruit, small animals, and insects (especially larvae) and curls up to sleep by day in tree hollows. Its length is about 35 cm (14 inches), excluding its furry 5–10-cm (2–4-inch) tail. It has large eyes, sturdy limbs, stublike second fingers and toes, and dense woolly fur, which is grizzled reddish in colour. A ridge of short, blunt spines formed by the neck vertebrae runs down the nape. The spines are covered by thin, highly innervated skin and are thought to be sensitive to the movements of potential predators when the potto tucks its head between its arms in a defensive posture." Read more: britannica.com/animal/potto
Drawing: Jack
BIOLOGY
"The Giant Ground Pangolin is the largest of the eight pangolin species, stretching up to 1.8 metres long and weighing up to 33kg. Covered in protective scales, they can roll into a defensive ball when danger is near to protect every part of exposed body. They also have long front claws for digging and ripping into ant colonies, where they use their long tongue to feast on ants and termites." Read more: worldlandtrust.org/giant-ground-pangolin
Drawing: Harry
BIOLOGY
"Pangolins are the only mammals known to have plate-like scales; when threatened, they roll up into a ball, with the scales forming an armoured exterior. The scales are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails, which hardens as the pangolins reach maturity. Pangolins are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, relying on their hearing and sense of smell to locate their prey at night. Long, powerful, curved claws tear open anthills or termite mounds, and with no teeth, they use a sticky elongated tongue to retrieve insects." Read more: bornfree.org.uk/pangolins
Drawing: Noah
BIOLOGY
"This is a predominantly arboreal species found in a variety of forest types including primary, secondary, and gallery forest, woodland savanna, tree and shrub savanna, mangroves and residential gardens ...In general Western Red Colobus prefer mature old growth moist forest, where they use the main canopy at 20-40 m height ...and typically travel on the larger branches ...however, the northern populations also spend time travelling, resting, playing, feeding and grooming on the ground" Read more: iucnredlist.org/westernredcolobus
KING COLOBUS Colobus polykomos
Drawing: Janet (left) and Ava (right)
BIOLOGY
"This species depends on rainforest and gallery forest; it is rarely found in degraded habitats, although sometimes occurs in secondary forests. Colobus polykomos usually forms small multi-male groups...Lone individuals have also been observed. In Mt. Nimba, Liberia, it associates with the Diana Monkey..." Read more: iucnredlist.org/kingcolobus
Drawing: Lucas
BIOLOGY
"[This species] can be found in primary and secondary forests, gallery forest, swamp forest, mangrove forest, forest-savanna mosaic landscapes, and regenerating areas such as farmbush...In Liberia, the highest altitude that this subspecies inhabits appears to be about 500-800 m at Mount Nimba... " Read more: iucnredlist.org/westernlesserspotnosedmonkey
BIRDS
GREAT BLUE TURACO Corythaeola cristata
Drawing: Mason
BIOLOGY
"Turaco, also spelled touraco, also called lourie or plantain-eater, any of about 18 species in six genera of colourful, fruit-eating African birds...Turacos are remarkable for their coloration...Most turacos also have prominent head crests." Read more: britannica.com/animal/turaco
Drawing by Mason
Drawing: Zoe (left)
BIOLOGY
"A large, boldly-marked, crested eagle with a long tail and broad wings, resembling a massive goshawk. The underparts of the adult are blotched and barred black-and-white; there is also a variable rufous wash across the breast. The pale immature has creamy-tan underwings. It is resident in thicker woodland and lowland, montane, and riverine forest, where it hunts monkeys and other small-to-medium-sized vertebrates. It has an undulating display flight coupled with a loud “wheee-yooo, wheee-yooo, wheee-yooo” call that often draws attention. Juvenile Crowned and Martial eagles are similar, but the Crowned has buffier underparts (and underwings), spotted flanks, and broader bars on the tail." E-BIRD
YELLOW-CASQUED HORNBILL Ceratogymna elataDrawing: Jacob (right)
BIOLOGY
"Huge, spectacular, mostly black hornbill. Males have a large cream-and-white bill, and females a much smaller horn-colored one. In flight, shows a mostly white tail with a black center. Found in lowland rainforest, forest edge, and gallery forest. Usually in pairs or small groups of up to a dozen. The loud calls are surprisingly high-pitched yelps and honks that are often given in a quick series, higher and less rasping than similar calls of Black-casqued Hornbill. Similar to Black-casqued Hornbill in appearance, but male separated by the yellow casque, female by the paler bill and neck, and both sexes by the completely white outer tail feathers." E-BIRD
Drawings: Tess (left) and Willow (right)
BIOLOGY
"Spectacular purple turaco with a beautiful facial pattern: a large red-and-yellow bill, red bare skin around the eye, a white patch behind the eye, and a dark red back of the head. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found along forest edge and in gallery forest and lush gardens. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Call is a low, rollicking trill that is often given in raucous chorus by a group. Similar to Ross’s Turaco, but overlap in range is minimal, and Violet is easily separated by many details of its facial pattern, including its two-colored bill." E-BIRD
Drawings: Shay (left) and Mitchell (right)
BIOLOGY
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and inhabits dense forest. It is threatened by the pet trade and habitat loss. Read more: iucnredlist.org/timnehparrot
Drawing: Zach
BIOLOGY
"A large, buff-brown vulture with pale underwing patches and a diagnostic pale rump patch that is best seen in flight. Prefers open savanna and plains, where it breeds in loose colonies in tall trees. It remains Africa’s commonest vulture but is declining rapidly as it is highly susceptible to poisoning. The similar Cape Griffon is larger and paler, with a pale honey-colored eye (visible at close range), and less contrast between the flight feathers and the reminder of the underwing in flight." E-BIRD
Drawing: Abbey
BIOLOGY
"A plump pigeon with green wings and back, dull burgundy shoulders, and a whitish bill with a red base. It prefers forest and thicker woodland, where nomadic groups congregate in fruiting trees, especially figs. They clamber around clumsily like parrots but can remain well hidden. When disturbed, they explode from a tree and fly quickly and directly. Often detected by their amusing song, which includes whinnies, clicks, whistles, cackles, and growls. African Green-Pigeon lacks the bright yellow belly of the similar Bruce’s Green-Pigeon." E-BIRD
REPTILES
Drawings: Mason (left) and Cody (right)
BIOLOGY
"The Slender-snouted Crocodile is a narrow-snouted, medium-sized species reaching a maximum length of up to 4 m... Historically, [it] was widely distributed throughout West and Central Africa...This species prefers forested rivers and other densely vegetated bodies of water (e.g. reservoirs and freshwater lagoons), but has also been found in sparsely vegetated, gallery habitats within savanna woodland...Like most crocodilians, young animals feed primarily on small fish and a variety of invertebrates; adult animals are primarily piscivorous although they have been observed to consume mammals..." Read more: iucnredlist.org/slendersnoutedcrocodile
Drawing: Ollie
BIOLOGY
"African Dwarf Crocodiles are timid nocturnal animals and solitary hunters. They predate mainly on small animals in rivers or nearby to the riverbank. They are also known as the Broad-Snouted Crocodile or the Bony Crocodile are the smallest extant species of crocodile in the world and are typically around 1.5 metres in length. They face persecution by humans and other animals and spend most of their daylight hours resting in burrows they make along riverbanks." Read more: palmoildetectives.com/african-dwarf-crocodile
Drawing: Tiyree
BIOLOGY
" [This species] is a small to medium-sized forest tortoise, with an omnivorous diet and specialized habitat-selection for rainforest and swamp forest patches. It is diurnal or crepuscular, and particularly active above-ground after rains, during the wet season...The species has an omnivorous diet that includes plant matter, seeds, fungi, worms, snails, slugs, and various arthropods that can vary slightly between habitat type... It may forage on small amphibians, fish, and carrion..." Read more: iucnredlist.org/homeshingebacktortoise
Drawings: Year 6 student (left) and Riley (right)
BIOLOGY
"Rhinoceros viper, also called river jack, [is a] brightly coloured venomous snake of the family Viperidae that inhabits rainforests and swamps of West and Central Africa. It prefers wet or damp environments and can even be found on plantations...It possesses a green or blue triangular head with a large black arrowhead mark on the top and two or three pairs of hornlike scales on the tip of the snout. It averages 70–90 cm (28–35 inches) in length, but specimens as long as 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) are known. The body is made up of a spectacular velvetlike pattern of triangles, rectangles, and diamond-shaped areas that are coloured red, yellow, blue, green, and black...The rhinoceros viper is nocturnal and mainly terrestrial; however, it may be found in aquatic environments and in trees at times. Although it is a sluggish and slow-moving snake, it can strike sideways and forward quickly...It can produce a prolonged warning exhalation or hiss when disturbed." Read more: britannica.com/rhinoceros-viper
Drawing by Lexie
BIOLOGY
"This is a diurnal species of dense humid forest and gallery forest, where it can be seen high on the trunks of trees... In is also found in open woodland close to forest... It feeds on ants and other arthropods, and is capable of gliding between trees." Read more: iucnredlist.org/sawtaillizard
Drawing: Jess (below)
BIOLOGY
"This species mainly occurs in the understory of dense forest...It is sometimes found in anthropogenic habitats, including plantations and gardens, where it can be common...This is a diurnal gecko that feeds on small insects." Read more: iucnredlist.org/cameroondwarfgecko
COMMON AGAMA Agama agama
Drawing: Harley (above)
BIOLOGY
"This diurnal lizard occurs in all habitats and climatic zones in tropical West Africa, except for the Sahara and dense forest... It is tolerant of habitat modification and can be abundant in human settlements, in both its native and introduced ranges... This lizard is naturally semi-arboreal, but is also rock-dwelling and adapts readily to walls and concrete structures... It is commonly found under logs, dry leaves, sandy substrates and in branches... It is easy to find throughout West Africa, where it is often the only agama encountered, typically resting on walls or in trees." Read more: iucnredlist.org/commonagama
AMPHIBIANS
Drawings: Emily (left) and Frankie-Lou (above right)
BIOLOGY
"It is an arboreal species of primary forest, only rarely occurring in secondary forest. It breeds in small streams and small temporary ponds. The eggs are laid in holes in the ground close to water, or in dry areas where temporary ponds will form at the start of the rains." Read more: iucnredlist.org/taiforesttreefrog
Drawing: Emily P.
BIOLOGY
The Ivory Coast Wart Frog inhabits the rainforests of west and central Africa. "It is confined to primary and secondary lowland rainforest, where it is dependent upon very large tree holes filled with several litres of water (an uncommon microhabitat) in which it breeds by larval development (6-18 months developmental period)." Read more: iucnredlist.org/ivorycoast wartfrog
Drawing: Alfie
BIOLOGY
"This species occurs predominantly in primary and some secondary rainforests, and is closely associated with flowing water... Males mainly call in primary forest, usually within 2m of brooks in which puddles tend to remain during dry season... Most calling activity occurs at night, and males call from February to November." Read more: iucnredlist.org/westernlongfingeredfrog
INVERTEBRATES
Drawing: Layla B.
BIOLOGY
Africa's largest butterfly, the African Giant Swallowtail glides through the rainforests of west and central Africa, with a wingspan of up to 23 centimetres. Read more: iucnredlist.org/papilioantimachus
Zographus regalis UNCLASSIFIED
Drawing: Molly
BIOLOGY
The Zographus regalis is a species of Cerambycidae (longhorn beetle), found in west and central Africa.
Drawings: Joe (left) and Eli (right)
BIOLOGY
"The Hairy Golden Orb Weaver is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Sub-Saharan Africa... The species' preferred habitat is shaded moist areas of forests." Read more: iucnredlist.org/hairygoldenorbweaver
THE SKETCHBOOKS | THE EXHIBITION
The following images are a selection of Year 6's sketchbook drawings of endangered species for their project studying Jane's art:
Left: Snow Leopard; right: Leopard
THE EXHIBITION
Y6's project was exhibited in the school and featured sketchbook drawings and research pages. In response to Jane's china mug collection, Y6 created a collection of endangered species designs drawn on recycled paper cups.
ABOUT LIBERIA CHIMPANZEE RESCUE AND PROTECTION
Gloria, image courtesy of Jenny Desmond
Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary and conservation center in Liberia rescuing chimpanzees who are victims of the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Almost 100 orphaned chimpanzees, most still babies or children, are currently under the care of LCRP. Each month, more captive chimpanzees are confiscated, allowing for the enforcement of Liberia's wildlife laws. Without the ability to confiscate wildlife, authorities cannot protect and preserve chimpanzees.
LCRP’s Sanctuary and Conservation Center is dedicated to improving the lives of chimpanzees, both wild and orphaned, through rescue, rehabilitation, protection and conservation.
Through the work of LCRP, orphaned chimpanzees are confiscated, rescued and rehabilitated. Our collaborative partnerships are propelling Liberia’s chimpanzee protection, education, and conservation initiatives forward. Visit LCRP here:
ABOUT BORN FREE
"We work tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild. We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. We seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world." Visit Born Free here:
ABOUT DRAWING FOR THE PLANET
We are a global art and environmental education charity with drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, at its core. Founded by artist Jane Lee McCracken, to share her passions for drawing and wildlife, we partner with international wildlife charity Born Free, conservationists, artists, educators and cultural institutions. Through our art, education, exhibition and conservation fundraising projects we give children, communities and wildlife a voice. Watch our video and visit us at: www.drawingfortheplanet.org
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Support our global projects, help protect wildlife and give the gift of art and wildlife by donating or becoming a member here:
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ABOUT JANE LEE MCCRACKEN
Shh it's a Tiger! 2013 Biro drawing © Jane Lee McCracken
Jane Lee McCracken constructs intricate, multi-layered Biro drawings, sculptures, installations as well as product designs. Her work represents the beauty of life and its brutal realities, exploring the loss to both humans and animals caused by human destructiveness. She is the founder and CEO of Drawing for the Planet global art, environmental education and conservation charity.
Over the last decade, she has raised funds for conservation organisations through her art and delivered drawing and environmental education workshops to thousands of people across the world. In 2019 she founded the Where Did All the Animals Go? project in partnership with Born Free and in 2021 Drawing for the Planet. Explore Jane's art:
Drawing for the Planet would like to thank Head Teacher Mrs Lynn, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Gould, staff and Year 6 for their creative contribution and donation to Chimpanzee Community 2 project.