Meet the cracking animals
MADE OF RECYCLABLE PLASTIC
Sea turtle
Sea turtles, which are among the oldest creatures on earth, have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years; however, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the things sea turtles must face as each species struggle to stay alive. Florida is home to 26 turtle species, 18 of which are freshwater turtles. The Florida population of green sea turtles has been considered endangered since 1978.
Bullfrog
The number one factor of the decline in frogs is habitat loss. Additional factors include pollution, and over collecting for food or pet trade. Global factors such as climate change, increased ultraviolet radiation and infectious diseases are also implicated. Their skin is extremely permeable and absorbent in order to efficiently exchange gases and water. Due to this, it readily takes up pollutants or chemicals present in the water and soil.
Rabbit
Marsh rabbits were declared endangered in 1990. It is esstmated that less than 300 rabbits remain today.
Burmese pythons have virtually wiped out marsh rabbits, opossums and other once-common mammals in the southern region of Everglades National Park, according to a nine?years tudy.
Alligator
Alligators are an important part of the Everglades ecosystem and are considered a keystone species of the park. The Everglades is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side.
During the first half of the 20th century, hunting and habitat loss made the American alligator vanish from large parts of its range and in 1967 it was listed as an endangered species under the U.S. law that would eventually develop into the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces with state wildlife agencies within the species range to aid the alligator on its path to recovery and in 1987 the American alligator was pronounced fully recovered and removed from the endangered species list. However, in some parts of the U.S. alligators are showing increased levels of mercury which is feared to possibly have long?term effects on their ability to reproduce.
The Everglades
THE EVERGLADES ARE A COMPLEX SYSTEM OF INTERDEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS: Water is the most dominant force and substance in the Everglades, and it shapes the land, vegetation, and animal life in South Florida. The American alligator is found in the freshwater marshes of the Everglades. It was first listed as endangered in 1966 in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. The Florida population of green sea turtles has been considered endangered since 1978. Pythons slither all over the southern end of Everglades National Park. And because of them, a new study says, a lot of animals that used to be seen in the Everglades are gone like the rabbits. The apple snail, a golf - ball sized wetland snail is a critical food web component in Florida wetlands, contributing to the diets of turtles, fish, alligators and wading birds.
Selections of past exhibitions
2011 Miami, USA - 45 Snails
2010 Rome, Italy - 2 Alligators, 30 Large Turtles
2009 Milan, Italy - 12 Large Snails
2009 Syracuse, Italy - 50 Large Turtles, 150 Small Turtles
2009 Brussels, Belgium - 150 Penguins, 8 Large Rabbits
2009 Paris, France - 150 Small Rabbits
2008 Paris, France - 6 Large Rabbits
2008 Prague, Czech Republic - 34 Penguins
2008 Tel Aviv, Israel - 10 Alligators, 50 Penguins, 50 Turtles
2007 Torino, Italy - 8 Alligators, 16 Large Turtles, 16 Small Turtles
2007 Bergamo, Italy - 500 Alligators, 800 Dolphins, 600 Penguins, 600 Bears, 1300 Birds, 500 Turtles, 200 Sheep
2005 Venice, Italy - 30 Penguins
2001 Venice, Italy - 1500 Turtles
1996 Milan, Italy - 300 Dolphins