[Art] A rhino and a chimera.

[moonvoice]

So.

The first ballpoint pen illustration was just
a sketch for Sudan's passing.

And the second ballpoint pen illustration was just
fanart for The Ancient Magus Bride / Mahoutsukai no Yome
because I love Elias.

Both done in my Paperblanks art journal. Which is mostly ballpoint pen work. Cheap Kilometrico crap works well.


Goodbye, Friend







It's So Cold.

Comments

[cmcmck]

They're hoping to breed from the remaining females using AI.

Here's hoping.........

[moonvoice]

I hope they show some mercy and don't go ahead with AI without solving the problem of genetic diversity. Those daughters are already inbred and facing a lifetime of health issues (Najin already has weak hind legs from brutal and previously failed mounting attempts that ruptured her Achilles tendons, and Fatu has a destroyed uterus from an infection), Even if they use the sperm of other males, the genetic pool is baaad, and this is something the scientists acknowledge.

There comes a point where one needs to balance realism with the public outcry of 'if only we can just keep some sick and miserable ones alive forever for our own sakes.' They have been functionally extinct long before Sudan died. Artificial insemination in rhinos in general has been almost impossible, but even if they were possible, I'm not sure this should be the test case?

Eh, I have strong feelings about 'saving an animal no matter what.' Being able to keep it in the 'Critical Endangered' list is, imho, not worth the absolute suffering to quality of life that could be inflicted in the process. Guarantee a diverse gene pool? Then yeah, maybe. But spending millions of dollars just to keep some inbred, increasingly narrow genetic specimens alive so we can tell ourselves we're not a plague species? Not worth it. I care about rhinos more than that. :/

[cmcmck]

I guess it depends what donors they thought to have further back. If it's just the last poor old boy then I completely agree with you.

I'm involved with the Aspinall Foundation and diversity in the gene pool to breed endangered species for release back into the wild is something they try really hard to achieve.

[hrafn]

Wow. These are so beautiful.

[goodbyebird]

♥♥♥