About the book
Wild animals are the backbone of our collective psyche, ingrained in our myths, folklore, and everyday language. Yet we're hurtling toward a future where many of these creatures exist only in memory. In the last 50 years, global wildlife populations have plummeted by nearly 70%, primarily due to habitat loss. In Latin America and the Caribbean, wildlife diversity has dropped by a staggering 94%.
"The Wild Was" is set in 2061, offering a glimpse into a world where we've allowed these trends to continue unchecked. Born from the disconnect between our love for our children, their love for animals, and the alarming lack of urgency around habitat protection, this book aims to make the abstract concept of mass extinction visceral and concrete. It begs the question: How will we explain to our children that we allowed their wilderness to be destroyed?
Each page spread represents a real ecological region, with ecosystems and species that are currently vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The fictional extinction dates, within the lifetimes of today's parents and children, serve as a plausible warning.
While most environmental art shies away from evoking guilt or fear, the fear of loss can be a powerful motivator, especially when it taps into the bond between parent and child. "The Wild Was" aims to awaken parents and inspire action before it's too late.
Explore the "About" links to learn more about each featured animal and the threats they face. Together, we can work to ensure that the wild things remain for generations to come.
Mountains
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Sumatran Tiger
Panthera Tigris Sondaica
The Sumatran Tiger was the world's smallest tiger, only growing up to 300 pounds, but it was still the king of this jungle! Its small size and thin stripes helped it blend in with the thick tropical forest.
Sulawesi Flying Fox
Acerodon Celebensis
The Sulawesi Flying Fox was actually a giant bat that roosted in low trees such as mangroves. It ate mostly coconuts and breadfruit, and carried seeds and pollen on its fur, just like a bee!
Javan Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus Bartelsi
The Javan Hawk-Eagle was the national bird of Indonesia. It only had one partner for life, laying a single egg in a nest at the top of a tall tree.
Mountains
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Northern River Terrapin
Batagur Baska
The Northern River Terrapin was one of the biggest river turtles in Asia. It preferred fresh water, but would migrate many miles to lay its eggs in sand banks near the sea. Males changed skin and eye color during mating season, making them hard to miss!
Blue-Banded Kingfisher
Alcedo Euryzona
This small but beautiful bird used its long, sharp beak to spear crustaceans, insects, and small reptiles. Like other kingfishers, it had special inner eyelids to protect its eyes when it dove into the water.
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Dicerorhinus Sumatrensis
The Sumatran Rhinoceros was the world's smallest rhino, but it was still hefty, averaging about 1,600 pounds. It was also loud, making a whistling sound that could be heard up to six miles away!
Mountains
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Sun Bear
Helarctos Malayanus
Like birds and bats, Sun Bears also slept in trees, which was easy because they were only the size of big dogs. The orange markings on their chests were unique to each bear, like a fingerprint.
Sunda Pangolin
Manis lavanica
Pangolins had a few things in common with Sun Bears: both lived in trees and had long tongues that they used to eat insects. But pangolins were covered with tough scales and nearly blind, relying on their great sense of smell to find food.
Wallace Giant Bee
Megachile Pluto
The Wallace Giant bee was about the size of a, grown-up's thumb. They built homes inside termite nests, making them hard to find despite their size.
Mountains
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Mangroves
Bruguiera Hainesii
Mangrove forests were home to many species of animals, and their ability to live in salty water made them important for preventing erosion and slowing down flooding from storm surges.
Super Red Arowana
Scleropages Formosus
One of the animals that lived among the mangroves was the Super Red Arowana. It was also known as a dragonfish because it looked like a Chinese dragon.
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Orcaella brevirostris
The adorable Irawaddy Dolphin lived in brackish water near the coast or in river deltas. Sometimes they helped fishermen by herding fish into nets!
Mountains
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Sumatran Elephant
Elephas Maximus Sumatranus
Like other Southeast Asian mammals, Sumatran Elephants were smaller and hairier than their mainland cousins. But even small elephants needed a lot of space to romp and play!
False Gharial
Tomistoma Schlegelii
The False Gharial was bigger than many other crocodilians, sometimes growing up to 16ft. It had a long, narrow snout, but could still eat bigger prey like monkeys, deer, and even cows.
Bleeding Toad
Leptophryne Cruentata
Southeast Asia was home to thousands of species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and other amphibians. Some, such as the Bleeding Toad, displayed beautiful, jewel-like colors.
Mountains
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Western Tarsier
Cephalopachus Bancanus
Tarsiers were the only completely carnivorous primates. With their powerful jumping ability, they caught insects, lizards, and even bats. Their huge eyes let them see well at night. Each eye was bigger than their whole brain!
White-Head Batwing Butterfly
Atrophaneura Luchti
Little was known about this beautiful butterfly, just one of thousands of species that once lived on these islands. Maybe it's still there! Can you imagine what other mysteries once lived in Southeast Asia... back when The Wild Was?
Sumatran Orangutan
Pongo Abelii
The word "orangutan" translates as "person of the forest". This makes sense, since wild Sumatran orangutans made tools out of branches to get honey and termites to eat.