“Petro Diamant is a visionary artist whose work transcends traditional conservation efforts. Through her powerful and evocative artwork, she captures the beauty and plight of endangered species, transforming the way we view and protect the natural world.”

IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365

Hunny Bun's mother was rescued from an illegal wildlife trafficking operation and gave birth to her shortly after at REST Namibia. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species

PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote nor encourage taking images with animals. This image is used to raise awareness on issues pertaining to the illegal and exotic wildlife trade in Pangolin and Pangolin Scales.

THE PANGOLIN FLOWER - Awareness Art : Cape / Ground Pangolin

Awareness Artist for Near Threatened and Endangered Species: Petro Diamant

Organisation : Rare Endangered Species Trust (REST) - Namibia

Photographer : Judy & Scott Hurd - www.h4urd.co.uk

Art Garments : by Petro Diamant for EARTH ALIVE 365 | The Pangolin Coat & Jumper : Lorena Benitez -America

The Pangolin Garment designed and created at Rare Endangered Species Trust by Lorena Benitez

( Harvard Graduate and Pangolin Researcher)

Read the Mission Statement here mission statement

"Be the guardian that walks with the wild ones" - Petro Diamant

The Pangolin Trade is the illegal poaching, trafficking and sale of pangolins and parts of pangolins. The animals are trafficked mainly for their scales.

Representatives of 182 countries unanimously enacted a ban on the international trade of all Pangolin species by moving them to Appendix I. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. It is illegal to trade Pangolin. Read about CITES Appendices HERE 

They are one species of the most unique mammals in the world and still threatened by large-scale illegal hunting and trade.  Pangolins have become a highly prized commodity, illegally trapped, killed, and trafficked by organized crime networks between countries and continents. From 2016 to 2019, an estimated 206.4 tonnes of pangolin scales were intercepted and confiscated from 52 seizures. This is equivalent to about 360,000 pangolins being poached according to a report by the Wildlife Justice Commission entitled Scaling up - The Rapid Growth in the Industrial Scale Trafficking of Pangolin Scales. These pangolin are often destined for the traditional medicine market in Asia or bushmeat markets in Central and the southern parts of West Africa.

 

WORD

from Petro Diamant

"Animals are not mere resources for our use and exploitation. They are sentient beings, each with their own rich spectrum of emotions and intelligence. While humans often perceive themselves as superior to other species, animals demonstrate profound intelligence and communicate their love language,  feelings in ways that we, as humans, may never fully comprehend.

It is a choice. Choosing compassion and kindness towards non-human animals is a reflection of our humanity. Instead of viewing them as objects for our benefit, we have the opportunity to offer them friendship and treat them as friends. By extending friendship, love, and compassion to non-human animals, we open ourselves to profound connections and mutual respect. 

True friendships can bloom unexpectedly, even with species different from us. Your most cherished friend, ally, or teacher might very well be a non-human companion. Embracing this perspective fosters a world where empathy transcends species boundaries, enriching our lives and honoring the intrinsic value of every living being. " - Petro Diamant

The world of the Pangolin scale trade is a dark and sinister reality. Organized crime is at the heart of any illegal trade in species and it is absurd how interconnected the trade is with rhino horn, ivory, bear paws, threatened plant species, drugs and so much more . The same syndicates responsible for all. In the past few years much work has gone into protecting these animals and yet to date the continuing threat of pangolin trafficking is an ongoing concern.

"Wildlife Justice Commission operatives posing as buyers were offered staggering amounts of pangolin scales to buy in 2020, while the number of seizures decreased significantly compared to 2019. In spite of travel disruptions due to COVID-19, prices for pangolin scales have not plummeted dramatically. The Wildlife Justice Commission fears that once COVID-19 travel restrictions ease, trafficking of pangolin scales will resume to previous levels, putting enormous pressure on an already threatened species. The trafficking of pangolin scales has transformed from a somewhat “niche” wildlife crime to a significant transnational problem, as our 2020 report The Rapid Growth in the Industrial Scale Trafficking of Pangolin Scales pointed out. Official law enforcement seizures are clearly just a drop in the ocean of trafficked pangolin scales. While availability seems to have skyrocketed, prices have not plummeted dramatically, as may have been anticipated. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, many traders began stockpiling their products in order to resume trade as soon as they possibly could. It is probable that some of the scales we were offered in 2020 came from such stockpiles. This only serves to compound our concerns about a market surge when travel becomes easier. This is sustained by the recent seizure of over 854 tonnes of mixed endangered wildlife products, including 8.8 tonnes of pangolin scales, in Nigeria in January of this year (2021).While ivory prices fall, pangolin prices rise – or at least remain somewhat stable. This has become a significant problem in recent years, a trend our Intelligence Development Unit first identified in 2019. In September of that year, the Wildlife Justice Commission published an analysis identifying this trend, and indicating that as ivory prices were falling, traffickers were increasingly turning to pangolin scales and, in combined shipments, the proportion of pangolin scales had surpassed the volume of ivory." - Wildlife Justice Commission

- While ivory prices fall, pangolin prices rise -

Image : Lorena Benitez , Petro Diamant & Maria Diekmann (REST ) Rare Endangered Species Trust Namibia

THE WORLD'S MOST WANTED ANIMAL

#NaturePBS

Briony Jones - Producer Rebecca Gordon - Director Jennifer Joyce - Digital Producer Jasmine Leftley - Editor / Sound Charli May- Director of Photography

This documentary is protected under the copyright of The University of Westminster. Any queries contact - brionyjones27@gmail.com

AWARENESS ARTIST

FOR NEAR THREATENED & ENDANGERED  SPECIES

THE KNYSNA SEAHORSE

Note: No Artwork has been designed to advocate for the Knysna Seahorse. I am busy putting a concept together for the species. When I embarked on my journey to raise awareness for near-threatened and endangered species through art, I was deeply moved by the plight of the Knysna seahorse. Learning about its critically endangered status, […]

SURICATE

SURICATES THE SURICATE SOLSTICE AWARENESS ART FOR MEERKATS & THE EARTH “THE SURICATE SOLSTICE celebrate the Hearts of Suricates. From dawn till dusk, with an open heart they gaze and greet the rising sun. Community and family is everything to them and in their world there is structure, purpose and everyone knows their place. Respect, honour […]

THE OCEAN

AUM THE HEART OF THE OCEAN CHILD Advocacy For The Ocean and Marine Biodiversity Aum The Heart Of The Ocean Child Awareness Art, created for the Ocean and Marine Biodiversity. The Ocean is vast and unfamiliar yet full of life and unimaginable beauty. “Aum” or “Om” is a sacred sound and spiritual symbol in Hinduism, […]

LANDFILLS AND DUMPSITES

“Diamant’s art is more than just visual representation; it is a call to action. Her ability to convey the urgent issues faced by endangered species through art has mobilized countless individuals to support wildlife conservation efforts.” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 This image is part of a series of images […]

STRAY ANIMALS

“Art that Advocates for the Voiceless” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote nor encourage taking images with animals. This image […]

RHINOCEROS

IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Rhinos are on the verge of extinction and those helping the species to survive require your ongoing support for their continued existence. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO […]

CHEETAH

“Diamant’s ability to evoke empathy and action through her artwork is a significant force in contemporary environmental activism.” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Cheetah are considered vulnerable with the population decreasing. Their future remains uncertain. Their loss of habitat, lack of prey to feed on, and their vulnerability to humans, hunters, […]

ELEPHANT

“Diamant’s artistic endeavors are a beacon for wildlife conservation. Her engaging exhibitions and thought-provoking artwork serve as a platform for raising awareness about the urgent need to protect our planet’s most vulnerable species.” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 THE ELEPHANT OMEN – Awareness Art : Elephants Awareness Artist for Near […]

LION

“Petro Diamant’s unique approach to combining art with environmental activism sets a new standard in the field of conservation. Her projects not only highlight the struggles of endangered animals but also inspire positive change through creative expression.” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Rescued from a lion breeding farm that breeds […]

CAPE VULTURE

“Diamant’s art is more than just visual representation; it is a call to action. Her ability to convey the urgent issues faced by endangered species through her art has mobilized countless individuals to support wildlife conservation efforts.” IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 The intended vultures that I was meant to […]

HORSES

“Art from the Heart and Activism” by Petro Diamant is a creative initiative that combines visual art with passionate advocacy to raise awareness for endangered species and environmental issues. Through powerful imagery and engaging campaigns, Petro Diamant uses art as a tool for activism, aiming to inspire action and foster compassion for wildlife and nature.  […]