- Title: MEXICO: Mexico City exhibition looks to boost funds to protect endangered animals
- Date: 11th July 2009
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 09, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) VARIOUS OF JAGUAR FIGURE IN GLASS BOX VARIOUS OF ROYAL EAGLE FIGURE/ PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF EAGLE VARIOUS OF QUETZAL FIGURE VARIOUS OF PANDA BEAR/ MAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH NEXT TO FIGURE SIGN THAT READS: "SAFE ME"/ GIRLS LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF GULF MARINE TURTLE/ GIRLS LOOKING AT FIGURE FIGURE OF WHITE RHINOCEROUS GIRL LOOKING AT FIGURE WITH MOTHER VARIOUS OF JAGUAR FIGURE OF GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE MAURICIO LIMON, UNDERSECRETARY OF SEMARNAT (SECRETARIAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES) TALKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MAURICIO LIMON, UNDERSECRETARY OF SEMARNAT (SECRETARIAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES), SAYING: "We hope it will grow (exhibition). Right now, we'll see 80 (figures). In the end we'll probably have more than 100. The intention is to hold an auction afterwards. Hopefully the population will be able to appreciate this art as a way of creating awareness, to be careful and protect the environment and then taking part in the auction. Some of the resources will go to the protection of these species and to the care and protection of ecosystems through Naturalia." ORGANIZERS OF EXPO CUTTING RED RIBBON CAMERA VARIOUS OF ARTIST TALKING TO ORGANIZERS WOMEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS VARIOUS OF FIGURE OF MARINE "VAQUITA" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTIST OF MARINE "VAQUITA" FIGURE, RODRIGO CANDELAS, SAYING "My work is based on the marine "vaquita." I called it the vaquita "mayina" because it's a vaquita disguised to represent our Mayan culture. It represents the ball game, a ritual where good beats evil. What Animal Celebration is doing with this event is contributing to the preservation of endangered species. They (organizers) are playing the ball game, they are beating the force of destruction, the force of evil." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 26th July 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Nature / Environment
- Reuters ID: LVAEBFHEPD51FK9AWSJ43U9OV2RO
- Story Text: An open-air exhibition displaying 80 fibreglass figures of eight endangered species was inaugurated in Mexico City on Friday (July 10) to draw attention to the protection of the environment and these creatures.
The display titled "Animal Celebration" was set-up along the capital's main bustling Reforma avenue. Life-sized intensely colourful jaguars, royal eagles, quetzal birds, panda bears, gulf marine turtles, white rhinocerous, blue whales and marine "vaquitas," the only endemic Mexican cetacean, grace the side walks.
Professional artists, enthusiasts and designers were called on to propose innovative designs to decorate plain canvas animal figures. Once selected, the figures were sent to those who proposed the best designs.
The organizers hope to receive donations from companies interested in the conservation of endangered species and donate funds through an auction to take place once the exhibitionon November 1, 2009. All raised funds will be donated to Naturalia, a non-profit conservation organization founded in 1990 by a group of citizens concerned with the critical situation of wild species in Mexico, one of the world's most diverse ecosystems.
During the inauguration of the exhibition, Mauricio Limon, undersecretary of Semarnat (Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources) said the exhibition was aimed at encouraging visitors to become interested in ecology. Organizers expect some 10 million people will see the figures.
"We hope it will grow (exhibition). Right now, we'll see 80 (figures). In the end we'll probably have more than 100. The intention is to hold an auction afterwards. Hopefully the population will be able to appreciate this art as a way of creating awareness, to be careful and protect the environment and then taking part in the auction. Some of the resources will go to the protection of these species and to the care and protection of ecosystems through Naturalia," said Limon.
Rodrigo Candelas, who decorated a marine "vaquita" said his design had a Mayan theme with a message.
"My work is based on the marine "vaquita." I called it the vaquita "mayina" because it's a vaquita disguised to represent our Mayan culture. It represents the ball game, a ritual where good beats evil. What Animal Celebration is doing with this event is contributing to the preservation of endangered species. They (organizers) are playing the ball game, they are beating the force of destruction, the force of evil," he said.
China and the United States are the largest markets for banned pets and animal products, making the US-Mexico border a busy corridor for the smuggling of many rare species from across Latin America and other parts of the world.
From the live snakes that smugglers stuff with packets of cocaine to the white tigers drug lords keep as exotic pets, rare animals are being also increasingly sucked into Mexico's deadly narcotics trade.
Mexican ecosystems are in danger due to the expansion of tourists resorts and developments as well as unlawful harvesting practices. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
