Mysterious Pangolin

Recent molecular analysis of confiscated pangolin scales revealed the existence of a ninth, previously unknown species of pangolin, now called the Mysterious Pangolin! The unusual discovery brings with it both hope and concern- hope that the whereabouts of this creature will eventually be found, and concern that the creature would be found alive before the trafficking of pangolins leads the sp0ecies to extinction.

Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine. 

Lolo's Flying Journey

I'm very pleased to announce that my latest project with WWF Hong Kong, Lolo's Flying Journey- an illustrated boardgame on the migratory journey of the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, was launched on World Migratory Day! The project is a collaboration between WWF Hong Kong, the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership, Incheon Metropolitan City (South Korea) and the Hans Seiddel Foundation. The game is available in Chinese, English and Korean, on WWF Hong Kong's website. As participants play the game, they must help the spoonbill navigate different threats across its journey through six countries and guide the bird to its wintering grounds to earn points. 

A huge thanks to the WWF HK team for giving me this opportunity! Click on the images for a larger view.

A Spoonbill and a Greenshank Discuss Shangchi

The endangered Black-faced Spoonbill and Nordmann's Greenshank have a conversation about habitat loss and cinema in my Gocomics page today. 

Honk Kong Terracotta Corals

Researchers in Hong Kong are using 3-d printed terracotta tiles to revive coral reefs in polluted waters! Comic strip from m Sunday Mid-Day column. 

Bird Caricatures for WWF Hong Kong

Some wetland birds I illustrated for a project on wetland management and conservation for WWF Hong Kong last year. 

Shark Fin Trade and the Fishing Industry

Last month, a shipment of 28 tons of shark fin was seized in Hong Kong, setting a new world record for shark fin trade. This came from 38500 sharks from the endangered thresher and silky sharks, and was traced all the way back to the Ecuador. This goes on to show how ineffective bans and regulations can be when there is a lack of enforcement. Although unlicensed trade of shark fin is illegal in Hong Kong, trade with a license and consumption are not, making it the world's largest consumer of shark fin (followed by China, Singapore and Malaysia).

Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

Spoonbilled Sandpiper Conservation

A comic poster on the conservation of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper or 'Spoony', done for Birdlife International and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Group. The poster was also translated to Cantonese, and is being translated to multiple local languages for various Spoony range countries.

East Asian Australasian Flyway- Birdlife International

A set of cartoons done for Birdlife International and the East Asian Australasian Flyway partnership, to highlight the conservation threats faced by the bird species using this flyway. The birds featured in the cartoons include the Bar-tailed Godwit, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Black-faced Spoonbill, Baer's Pochard, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Far-eastern Curlew and Great Knot, all endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. 

Thanks to Yong Ding Li of Birdlife International for commissioning me for the project!

The Wildlife Map of the Greater Bay Area

(Click on the image for a larger view)

The Pearl River Delta in Guangdong, China, is the most densely populated region in the world. Despite this, the river and adjoining areas host a rich diversity of wildlife. From creatures that have made big cities their homes, like the Crested Myna and the Red-billed Blue Magpie, to megafauna that still manages to eke a secretive life, such as the Chinese Serow, the bay shelters more wildlife than its residents can possibly imagine. As the Pearl River drains into the South China Sea, the distribution of biodiversity too takes an interesting course. Hard and soft corals pop up wherever opportunity resents itself in the form of clear waters, while keystone species like the Chinese White Dolphin and the Chinese Bahaba can still be found pulling themselves through in the severely polluted mouth of the Pearl River. Needless to mention, the region faces tremendous conservation pressures, which include habitat loss, water pollution, the world's most rapid rate of urbanization and development.

As part of my field research for the project, I spent a week in China in August last year, visiting some of the key places denoted in the map, and traversing the length of the river. The illustration and its various elements are being used by WWF China and WWF Hong Kong in various awareness material and merchandise. Thanks once again to WWF for commissioning the project!

Bird Ringing

A cartoon on bird ringing from my Gocomics page, inspired by my bird ringing experience with ornithologist Katherine Leung of WWF Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bird Ringing Group led by bird ringing veterans from the UK. Some of the birds we ringed were Red-billed Starling, Brown Shrike, Japanese White-eye, Oriental Reed Warblers,  Barn Swallow, and the rare Pleske's Grasshopper Warbler (shown in the cartoon). 

A big thanks to Katherine for the experience, which gave me a chance to observe these beautiful birds at such close quarters (and also find out how soft they are when stroked!)

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park

(click on the image for a larger view)

Hoi Ha Wan is one of Hong Kong's finest marine parks, home to more than 60 species of coral and 120 species of fish. The marine conservation and education team at WWF Hong Kong that manages the park, commissioned me to create this illustrated representation of the landscape, habitat and fauna found in the park, along with illustrations of recreational and educational activities that the park offers: coral-watching on glass-bottomed boats, snorkelling and kayaking. The artwork is being used in the park for an at-a-glance introduction to the place, as well as on WWF Hong Kong's website here. 

Thanks to Ms. Samantha Lee and the marine team at WWF HK for hosting me at Hoi Ha Wan, and for commissioning the project!

Typhoon Mangkhut and Hong Kong

Hong Kong has been grappling with housing for its skyrocketing population, and the government's proposed solution is reclaiming land from the sea. Environmental organizations have warned against the policy's disastrous environmental consequences. Typhoon Mangkhut cut straight across the city recently, thankfully not claiming any human life. This could well serve as a timely reminder to the government to not meddle with the natural forces along its coastline, whose mangroves, the first line of defence against natural disasters, are under direct threat from development.

Maps of Marine Conservation Priority Sites in Hong Kong

To celebrate World Oceans Day (8th June), WWF Hong Kong commissioned me to create this set of 7 maps for marine conservation priority sites in Hong Kong. WWF is working with the government to create marine conservation reserves in these areas. The maps show some of the key species found in the region, as well as the threats and conservation pressures that they face. 

The maps were displayed at kiosks and interactive devices at the WWF Hong Kong event 'Sea for Future', held on World Oceans Day. The maps are also being used in WWF's marine conservation and awareness collaterals. Thanks to Samantha Lee of WWF for commissioning me for this project, and for giving me a chance to draw and learn about fish!

Mai Po Nature Reserve- an Illustrated Map

Located in the Deep Bay in the north-western part of Hong Kong, Mai Po Nature Reserve is a wetland of international significance, and one of my favourite birding destinations! In addition to harbouring vast stretches of mangrove forests, tidal mudflats, grasslands and marshes, Mai Po is a major wintering ground for the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, and a number of other birds. Birds aside, Mai Po is probably the only place where a species of firefly named after the- the Mai Po Bent-winged Firefly is found! (A caricature of this insect illuminates the title of the map). Mai Po is also an important heritage destination, as it is one of the few remaining places where traditional and manually operated shrimp ponds called Gei Wai can still be seen in use. Wonderfully designed observation hides make for some fantastic sessions of bird-watching, while the mangrove trails are a great way to spot the rare Leopard Cat and the Eurasian Otter!

The reserve is managed by WWF Hong Kong. I was commissioned by the WWF HK's Education team to visit Mai Po in September last year, gather resource and reference, and create a bilingual illustrated map. The illustration is intended for display at the nature reserve, and also at various educational events conducted by the WWF. A big thanks to my friends at WWF- Alex, Augustine and Kitty for having me at Mai Po!

Also take a look at the Wildlife Map of Hong Kong, illustrated last year.

The Wildlife Map of Hong Kong

Hong Kong- the name automatically conjures the visual of that famous skyline, with high-rise buildings trying to outgrow each other in a dense concrete jungle. But what many of us aren't aware of, is that only a fourth of Hong Kong's area is urbanized, the rest being hilly, forested coutryside!

Commissioned by the WWF in Hong Kong, I travelled across the SAR, visiting different country parks to gather references for this project. The map shows 63 species of fauna spread across the islands. Hong Kong may not boast of megafauna, but many of the animals found here are special in their own way. The Romer's Tree Frog, HKSAR's smallest amphibian, is endemic to Hong Kong. Following the construction of the Honk Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok, the frog's original home range, a captive breeding and reintroduction programme was carried out, and now the frog is breeding in other islands of the SAR. The Mai Po marshes, in the north-west, attract hundreds of migratory species annually, the most notable being the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. Some other endemics include the Mai Po Bent-winged Firefly, named after the marshes, and the Hong Kong Newt, which is the first wild newt I've seen (in Tai Po Country Park). Towards the west in the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong's harbours are one of the last strongholds for the Chinese White Dolphin, despite the numerous challenges that the animal faces in these polluted waters. The Finless Porpoise and the Whale Shark also inhabit the South China Sea around the SAR, as does the Green Sea Turtle, which breeds on Lamma Island. Unique not just in its biodiversity but also geology, Hong Kong boasts of some of the most interesting terrain, being situated on volcanic terra firma. Sai Kung Country Park in the east has some of the most gorgeous hexagonal rock formations, while a large part of the coastline is lines with dense mangrove. There are various conservation challenges however to this natural harbour, with massive pressure from urbanization, destruction of mangroves along the coasts, pollution of sea water by cargoes and climate change. Other than flora and fauna, the map also showcases some of Hong Kong's cultural heritage, such as the fishing village of Tai O, the Tai Fu Tai Mansion, the rice fields of Long Valley, the Star Ferry, and its festivities- the Dragon Boat Race and the Lion Dance.

The map was produced with the aim of spreading awareness among Hong Kongers about its biodiversity, and to promote activities such as bird-watching and nature-hiking among the SAR's kids and youth. The map was formally launched at the recent One Planet Youth Forum hosted by the WWF in Hong Kong, where I had the opportunity to speak about my work to an audience comprised of young educators and conservationists across the Asia Pacific.

A big thanks to Mr. Alex Wong, Mr. Yamme Leung and Mr. Peter Cornthwaite of WWF HK, for commissioning me for the illustration, and for assigning a wonderful team to show me around Hong Kong!

The project has been featured by CNN International here, and has also been converted into a bilingual map, courtesy of WWF Hong Kong (click to enlarge)-

Why the Dolphin Smiles

Earlier this month on a visit to Hong Kong over an assignment, I took a trip with WWF to the fishing village of Tai O. While the trip yielded my first dolphin sightings in the wild (the Chinese White Dolphin, a race of the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin, for which the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong is one of the last remaining strongholds); a very special moment for me, I also happened to witness a rather jolting sight- that of a dead infant.

Infant mortality for dolphins has been on the rise in the Pearl Delta, because of the rising level of pollutants in the water, that go on to accumulate in and contaminate the milk of dolphins nursing their pups. Seeing that smiling face on a dead body has been one of the most disturbing moments for me in nature. Being one of the world's busiest ports, Hong Kong's polluted waters are already largely devoid of natural marine resources, posing a critical threat to the population of Chinese White Dolphins. 

The situation for Indo-pacific Humpbacks in India is not any better, with boat traffic, pollution, over-fishing, and noise threatening their existence. The comic appears in my column with Mid-Day today. This one's for you, baby dolphin.

Black faced Spoonbill

Did you know that the Black-faced Spoonbill of China is endangered? Every winter, a quarter of its population visits the Mai Po wetlands of Hong Kong.

I too am travelling to Hong Kong tonight over a new assignment! Although it may be a bit early for winter migrants, I'm still hoping to see a few spoonbills, and finally learn to use chopsticks correctly! More updates soon.