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Animal August 2022
Flip Sarta - Digital - Ongoing
Animal August (2022) is an ongoing illustration project documenting one animal a day that calls the LA Zoo it's home. This project was inspired by Flip's recent acceptance as a volunteer at the LA Zoo where he hopes to gain a deeper knowledge of the zoo's conservation efforts as well as more about the animals who reside there.
Each piece is accompanied by a brief description of the animal and some interesting facts.
New Volunteer
Let's learn a little more!
In August of 2022 I was accepted to be a new volunteer at the LA Zoo.
To get a little more familiar with the many wonderful creatures at the zoo, I decided to do a daily animal drawing project, which I called Animal August - to highlight one creature a day that calls the LA Zoo it's home!
I hope you will all enjoy the critters and learn a bit more about them.
In August of 2022 I was accepted to be a new volunteer at the LA Zoo.
To get a little more familiar with the many wonderful creatures at the zoo, I decided to do a daily animal drawing project, which I called Animal August - to highlight one creature a day that calls the LA Zoo it's home!
I hope you will all enjoy the critters and learn a bit more about them.
Bornean Orangutan
Let's learn a little more!
While there are three species of orangutan, the LA Zoo houses Bornean Orangutangs! This critter is critically endangered due to the illegal deforestation in the rainforests they call their homes.
They are the world's largest arboreal mammals and spend most of their times in trees. Their diet mainly consists of fruit - their favourite being Durian!
While their expected lifespan in the wild is around 35 years, in captivity these creatures can live up to 70 years!
While there are three species of orangutan, the LA Zoo houses Bornean Orangutangs! This critter is critically endangered due to the illegal deforestation in the rainforests they call their homes.
They are the world's largest arboreal mammals and spend most of their times in trees. Their diet mainly consists of fruit - their favourite being Durian!
While their expected lifespan in the wild is around 35 years, in captivity these creatures can live up to 70 years!
Southern Pudu
Let's learn a little more...
Hailing from the temperate rainforests of Argentina and Chile, the Southern Pudu is the world's smallest deer! Pudu's are about 25 inches tall at their shoulders and weigh up to 24 pounds! So little!
While searching for food they often sniff around for predators - which include foxes, feral dogs, cougars, owls, and wild cats. They are very nimble creatures, and climb on fallen trees to reach their favorite foods - leaves and fruits!
Southern Pudu population is decreasing due to habitat loss, poaching, parasites, and introduced disease.
Hailing from the temperate rainforests of Argentina and Chile, the Southern Pudu is the world's smallest deer! Pudu's are about 25 inches tall at their shoulders and weigh up to 24 pounds! So little!
While searching for food they often sniff around for predators - which include foxes, feral dogs, cougars, owls, and wild cats. They are very nimble creatures, and climb on fallen trees to reach their favorite foods - leaves and fruits!
Southern Pudu population is decreasing due to habitat loss, poaching, parasites, and introduced disease.
California Condor
Let’s learn a little more...
As the name suggests, this species is native to California and is a critically endangered species. This species was completely absent from the wild in 1987 but now has a wild population of about 300 thanks to the conservation efforts of the LA Zoo and it’s partners!
These massive birds measure 3 - 4 feet tall and weigh up to 25 pounds. Their wingspan is an impressive 9 1/2 feet. Incredible! These birds can live more than 50 years! The oldest California Condor at the LA Zoo was born in 1966.
California condors live in the grasslands and mountains of California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. As scavengers, their diet consists of deer, small mammals, bison, and marine animals.
As the name suggests, this species is native to California and is a critically endangered species. This species was completely absent from the wild in 1987 but now has a wild population of about 300 thanks to the conservation efforts of the LA Zoo and it’s partners!
These massive birds measure 3 - 4 feet tall and weigh up to 25 pounds. Their wingspan is an impressive 9 1/2 feet. Incredible! These birds can live more than 50 years! The oldest California Condor at the LA Zoo was born in 1966.
California condors live in the grasslands and mountains of California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. As scavengers, their diet consists of deer, small mammals, bison, and marine animals.
Fossa
Let’s learn a little more...
The fossa is the largest predator in Madagascar! While they look like a cat or a weasel they are most closely related to the mongoose!
They are excellent climbers - their flexible ankles and sharp claws allow them to climb in all different directions! Their diet mostly consists of lemurs but they also eat small rodents, lizards and birds.
The threat to these unusual animals is humans. About 90 percent of the fossa’s native range has been deforested for lumber, oil palm plantations, and other agricultural use. There may be as few as 2,500 fossas left in the wild in Madagascar.
These little guys can be pretty smelly - when frightened or marking their territory they release a foul odor from scent gland on their chest and hind legs.
They are about 15 inches tall and weigh between 15-20 pounds. Their bodies can reach up to 32 inches in length - with an equally long tail!
The fossa is the largest predator in Madagascar! While they look like a cat or a weasel they are most closely related to the mongoose!
They are excellent climbers - their flexible ankles and sharp claws allow them to climb in all different directions! Their diet mostly consists of lemurs but they also eat small rodents, lizards and birds.
The threat to these unusual animals is humans. About 90 percent of the fossa’s native range has been deforested for lumber, oil palm plantations, and other agricultural use. There may be as few as 2,500 fossas left in the wild in Madagascar.
These little guys can be pretty smelly - when frightened or marking their territory they release a foul odor from scent gland on their chest and hind legs.
They are about 15 inches tall and weigh between 15-20 pounds. Their bodies can reach up to 32 inches in length - with an equally long tail!
Butaan / Grays Monitor
Let's learn a little more...
Until the 1980s, it was believed that the Butaan was extinct! . 'The LA Zoo’s success in breeding this rare and poorly understood reptile in 2014 was praised by Daniel Bennett, the world’s foremost expert in this lizard family as “the most significant breakthrough in monitor lizard husbandry this century.”'
The Butaan are only found on the islands of Luzon and Polillo in the Philippines. Spending most of their time in trees, their diets consist primarily of fruit. They also eat snails. crabs and other insects in addition to their fruit based diets.
The Butaan is one of the largest lizards in Asia. These guys weigh in at 20 pounds and can grow up to 5 inches long from nose to tail! Their well developed claws and green and grey banding make them perfictly suited for the tree life. Unlike most monitor lizards. the Butaan has blunt teeth! There are perfect for pick fruit and crunching snails.
The monitor lizard genus, Varanus contains over 56 species that range from massive Komodo Dragons to tiny eight inch pigmy monitors.
Until the 1980s, it was believed that the Butaan was extinct! . 'The LA Zoo’s success in breeding this rare and poorly understood reptile in 2014 was praised by Daniel Bennett, the world’s foremost expert in this lizard family as “the most significant breakthrough in monitor lizard husbandry this century.”'
The Butaan are only found on the islands of Luzon and Polillo in the Philippines. Spending most of their time in trees, their diets consist primarily of fruit. They also eat snails. crabs and other insects in addition to their fruit based diets.
The Butaan is one of the largest lizards in Asia. These guys weigh in at 20 pounds and can grow up to 5 inches long from nose to tail! Their well developed claws and green and grey banding make them perfictly suited for the tree life. Unlike most monitor lizards. the Butaan has blunt teeth! There are perfect for pick fruit and crunching snails.
The monitor lizard genus, Varanus contains over 56 species that range from massive Komodo Dragons to tiny eight inch pigmy monitors.
Cape Porcupine
Let's learn a little more...
Cape Porcupines live in the rocky hills of central and southern Africa. Their quills and grow up to 12 inches long! When threatened porcupines raise their quills to make themselves look bigger - this is actually the same bodily responses that humans have when they get goose bumps / 'hair raising'.
Their quills are actually stiff modified hairs made of keratin. Unlike North American porcupines, Cape porcupines do not have barbs on the tips of their quills. While porcupines don't shoot their quills out they can become detached and grow back.
Porcupines are social creatures and usually live in adult pairs or in family groups with their offspring. Being mostly nocturnal, Cape porcupines hang out in caves, hallow trees, and burros during the day and forage for food at night. They mostly eat bark, roots, tubers, and berries.
Cape Porcupines live in the rocky hills of central and southern Africa. Their quills and grow up to 12 inches long! When threatened porcupines raise their quills to make themselves look bigger - this is actually the same bodily responses that humans have when they get goose bumps / 'hair raising'.
Their quills are actually stiff modified hairs made of keratin. Unlike North American porcupines, Cape porcupines do not have barbs on the tips of their quills. While porcupines don't shoot their quills out they can become detached and grow back.
Porcupines are social creatures and usually live in adult pairs or in family groups with their offspring. Being mostly nocturnal, Cape porcupines hang out in caves, hallow trees, and burros during the day and forage for food at night. They mostly eat bark, roots, tubers, and berries.
Additional Works
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