ZooTrophy Animal-a-Day Database: islands

About the Project

The ZooTrophy Animal-a-Day project began on October 15th, 2013 as illustrator Angela "LemurKat" Oliver began working her way, systematically but selectively, through the alphabet and presenting, via social media, an illustrated animal to the world. Daily.

All pieces are drawn as 2.5 x 3.5 inch collectible cards, using a combination of polychromos and prismacolor pencils, along with other art materials. Many are still available for purchase ($10) or trade, so drop her an email if anything captures your eye or if there is an animal you wish to request.

It is predicted this project will take her at least two years to complete - with approximately 36 animals being drawn for each letter. She has also used the images to create a collectible hardback encyclopedia series, playing cards and a desk calendar, as well as the ZooTrophy collectible trading card game.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

#818: Warrah

The Warrah, or Falklands Island Fox, is something of an enigma to science. She was the only land mammal endemic to the Falkland Islands. DNA analysis of the few remaining museum specimens have shown her closest relative to be the maned wolf of South America. Recent theories suggest that her ancestors may have made her way to the isolated islands via an ice bridge. After that, she adapted to survive on the rugged terrain, feeding on nesting sea birds and penguins. She showed little fear of people, and hunters would lure herwith fresh meat, felling her with a club or knife. With no forests or other such retreats on the islands, the numbers fell into rapid decline. By 1880, her species was extinct.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Creature Feature #504: Nicobar Pigeon

The beautiful Nicobar Pigeon resides in the small islands and coastal regions of the Nicobar Islands. Flocks of these large pigeons travel between islands, sleeping on offshore, predator-free islets and heading to the main lands to feed. His diet consists of fruit, seeds and buds, with grain taken when he can find it. He swallows stones to help grind up food in his crop. These gizzard stones are used in jewellery, with birds being poached for them and also for meat and the pet trade. It is closely related to the Dodo.

Nicobar Pigeons are considered Near Threatened, with populations being easily disrupted due to hunting by both humans and introduced predators. I may have to draw him again too, as this picture hardly does this magnificant bird justice.