THE TIGERS' FOREST PROJECT

OVERVIEW

Launched in 2024, The Tigers' Forest includes Amazing Tigers virtual and on-site environmental education and drawing workshops in Singapore (May 2024), the UK (May 2024), the USA (November 2024) and India (2025). 

As part of the project Jane will create The Tigers’ Forest composite artwork featuring a selection of children’s drawings from all four countries. Drawing for the Planet (DftP) will seek to install a large printed mural of the artwork in a public space in India and the UK. 

She is also creating individual composite artworks for each school featuring drawings by all participating children - DftP will present prints/or murals of the artworks to the schools. See The Artworks.

Learn about enchanting species that inhabit tiger landscapes illustrated by project drawings. See The Wildlife. Meet some of our Tiger Champion artists here: The Artists.

Born Free/DftP will create a free legacy educational resource of Amazing Tigers workshops which will be available for teachers to download from our websites.

Since May 2024 over a thousand children have participated making drawings of 160 Indian and Malaysian species including 300 tiger drawings, double the population of wild Malayan tigers.

EDUCATION WORKSHOP

In the Amazing Tigers education workshops delivered by Laura Eastwood Born Free's Head of Education, Laura focuses on tiger facts, their rainforest habitats in both India and Malaysia, why non-human animals are important to forest, the impact of deforestation and poaching and the Illegal Wildlife Trade, and how we can help protect tigers and other wildlife. 

This is followed by a presentation by Ayan Kamath Mehra, a Born Free Youth Ambassador and The Tigers' Forest Project Ambassador where children learn about his passions for wildlife and art and how he raises funds through his art for wildlife conservation.

DRAWING WORKSHOP

In Jane's ballpoint pen drawing workshops young artists choose photographs of tigers or other species from their landscapes as inspiration for their drawings.

Jane asks the artists to draw the animal only and not include any background present in the photograph. This approach emphasises the beautiful form of the animal. It also symbolises that habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to wildlife. 

Jane encourages each artist to imagine what the animal in the photograph has seen with its eyes and to form emotional connections with the animal while making their drawing—if we want to save wildlife, it is vital to make emotional connections with animal species; if we care, we want to conserve.

She also encourages the artists to express themselves, enjoy transporting their minds through drawing, celebrate their own unique drawing style, and embrace the fact that everyone can draw! 

PROJECT AIMS

The Tigers’ Forest aims to:

  • Raise awareness of endangered tigers and why keystone species are vital to global ecosystems and need to be protected.
  • Create an artistic and educational legacy through the drawings of a global generation of young people.
  • Build a network of awareness throughout tiger inhabited countries by sharing The Tigers' Forest artistic and educational legacy with the aim of providing more children and communities with the opportunity to participate in workshops and create art for the project.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE TIGERS' FOREST

RAISING FUNDS FOR TIGERS AND CHILDREN

DftP is raising funds to donate to the following tiger conservation organisations to support their vital work protecting tigers:

DftP is also raising funds so that underprivileged children—including children that live in tiger-inhabited areas in India—can learn about tigers in Born Free’s workshops and take part in Jane’s drawing workshops.

To support this project and help protect tigers, and give the gift of art and environmental education to children and communities please DONATE via our donate page and add in the form comments "THE TIGERS' FOREST" for your donation to go directly to this project:

drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/donate

PROJECT ORIGINS

Butterfly Lover 2014 © Jane Lee McCracken

Jane's journey to Drawing for the Planet and The Tigers' Forest began in Edinburgh in the 1970s, when, at age eight, she read in a wildlife magazine that the Caspian tiger had been declared extinct and made a promise to help tigers and endangered wildlife. Read more here: drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/our-story

Since 2014, Jane has worked in partnership with Born Free—in 2023, Born Free contacted her with an inquiry from Ayan, who was keen to get involved in a Drawing for the Planet project. Ayan, a high school student in Singapore had previously written an illuminating post, Sketching a Solution, about art and wildlife as a guest blogger on DftP's blog. 

Like Jane, Ayan is passionate about the natural world and art and has raised funds for wildlife conservation through his art, including drawings of tigers. Jane saw this as an opportunity written in the stripes to celebrate their passion for tigers!

Jane said:

"I've long dreamt of developing a project to honour the alluring animal that has been a glowing presence in my mind and heart since childhood—the tiger! The Tigers' Forest is a dream come true, and it is a privilege to partner with Born Free, working with Laura, Ayan, and the Born Free team on the project. A gifted artist, Ayan's tireless dedication and his advocacy for wildlife are inspirational. He is a tremendous asset, and we are immensely proud that Ayan is our project ambassador."