Wildlife & Conservation 2002 [antikvár]

ntroduction We are once again proud to bring an exhibition of the world's finest wildlife art to our Bruton Street gallery. While artists such as Alan Hunt, Mike Jaclson and Brian jarvi continue to receive international recognition and plaudits for their work, we are also pleased to introduce two new names to this elite group - painter Tony Karpinski and sculptor Bryan Hanlon. Wildlife art as a genre continues to create a massive impact all over the world and we believe the art featured within this exhibition represents the very best in its field. As a group, we remain firmly committed to the preservation of our environment and we are proud to continue to work in partnership with Fauna Flora International, as this vital conservation organisation prepares to celebrate its Centenary in 2003. As the case study opposite demonstrates, FFI cares as much about saving one individual animal under threat as it cares about conserving some of the world's most endangered species. Our artists, too, remain committed not only to their art but also to making sure future generations can enjoy the flora and fauna that inspire their paintings, drawings and sculptures. We thank you for your continued support in helping us to make a difference to FFI's global conservation programme and look forward to welcoming you to this magnificent exhibition of wildlife art. Sero is discovered highly distressed and close to drowning öfter being cropped for two days in a man-made woterhoie FFI Case Study In a heart-rending story from the remote Sera area of Northern Kenya, comes news of Che miraculous rescue of a six week old baby elephant from a well. The elephant calf, called Sera by her rescuers, was found as discussions on a community wildlife project began between the local people of the Kasima Hamisi region, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - a Kenyan trust and Fauna Flora International, The well that imprisoned Sera was one of fifty man made holes in the area, which hod become a trap for unwary baby elephants. We were incredibly lucky to find her She must have been in the well for around two days, and if we hadn't found her, she would not have survived another night We managed with a lot of effort to extract Sera from the well and get her into a helicopter, in order to look for the herd that had left her behind. We eventually located Che herd, but the maCharch rejected Sera, tossing her away while another elephant tried tD kneel on her and crush her to death. The story had a happy ending. We made the difficult decision Co creat the calf as on orphan. We decided to fly her to the Nairobi Bephant Nursery which is run by Daphne Sheldrick, The flighc to Daphne's, which took abouc an hour, was both exciting and frightening! Sera somehow managed to work out how Che doors opened. I therefore spent virtually all the flight fighcing the elephanc who was moving from one side of Che heiicopcer to the other, trying to open each door b/encually we both fell asleep exhausCed. I can say following all my years of wildlife and consen/aCion experience Chat having a six week old elephant asleep on my lap was one of the most memorable. Sera will now be cared for in the nursery until she is old enough to return to Che wild, probably in 2004, Sera is Che new figurehead for a huge initiative in the region thaC will undertake Co protect and ensure the long term conservation of African elephants and wildlife, Including Grevy's Zebra and Reticulated Giraffe, We also hope ChaC stories like Sera's rescue will encourage people to donate badly needed funds Co supporC Che project Fauna Flora International (FFI) is the wodd's longest escablishied conservaCion charity founded in 1903. As Che name implies, FFI seeks Co procecc animal and plane life, and manages wildlife and conservation projects all over Che world, wherever possible working with local communicies as they do in the Sera project, to combat poaching and encourage conservation measures and monitoring of wildlife, FFI relies upon donations and from esCablishing parCnerships wich organisations such as the Halcyon Gallery to keep up the work of protecting endangered wildlife and the environment Indomitable Sera is now the figurehead for an initiative lo conserve wildlife in Northern Kenya Mark Rose. Executive Director. FFI