COEXIST
Personal project
Every year, the third Friday of May marks Endangered Species Day, an annual day dedicated to bringing awareness to the many at-risk and critically endangered species around the world.
In May 2016, I teamed up with Jyothee Murali and a group of incredible models to create “COEXIST,” a photo series aiming to portray our connection with wildlife.
Our lives have been overtaken by technology and the need for independence and privacy that we have created a sense of separation within us. Many of us feel that we are not the same as ‘animals’. We have forgotten that we, too, are from the animal kingdom. We, too, were once wild and free, co-existing with the Earth and all of its other inhabitants.
Without wildlife, human life would not exist.
We must coexist.
TIGER | For the first time in 100 years, tiger populations are increasing! However, they are still endangered and continue to face significant threats, such as poaching, habitat loss, climate change and human-wildlife conflict. There are less than 4000 tigers remaining in the wild.
BURROWING OWL | Burrowing owls were once common during the summer time in the southern regions of the prairies and BC. However, cultivation of the land for agriculture has severely reduced their habitat over the years. Today, there are approximately less than 1,000 breeding pairs remaining in Canada.
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE | The Timber Rattlesnake was once common throughout Southern Ontario. However, it has been eradicated due to hunting. They currently live throughout eastern and central USA, but are still classified as an endangered species due to habitat loss.
POLAR BEAR | Polar bears have an important role in the overall health of marine environments because they are at the top of the food chain. The biggest threat facing polar bears is the loss of sea ice habitat from climate change.
WEST AFRICAN GIRAFFE | The West African Giraffe has been severely impacted from human population increase. Due to habitat loss and hunting, there remains less than 400 individuals left in the wild.
MOUNTAIN GORILLA | Mountain Gorillas live in fertile forests with rich biodiversity. These forests are attractive to humans who depend on the land to grow food. However, growing human populations and deforestation pose a huge threat to these animals. Around 1000 individuals remain in the wild.
GREVY'S ZEBRA | Historically, Grevy’s Zebra populations spanned across many countries in Eastern Africa. But due to habitat loss and hunting, there remains less than 2,500 individuals left in the wild.