Inktober 2023

Inktober 2023 ran from October 1st through October 31st.

This year, instead of posting a new drawing every day as I have done in prior years, I posted drawings on October 1st and 31st, and every third day in-between -- a total of twelve drawings.

The focus this year was on animal species classified as vulnerable, threatened or endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

This year's cover drawing is of a Vaquita, a porpoise endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California.  It is currently listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered with declining population. It is currently estimated that there are as few as 10 individuals remaining in the wild.  The population decline is due primarily to bycatch in gillnets that are used in the illegal fishery of totoaba, which is also listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Thanks to Keya Kulkarni of Pune, Maharashtra, India for providing the reference photo for this drawing. 

Instead of following the suggested prompt list provided by Inktober.com, I created my own prompt list, as shown here.

1 Oct

Walrus

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large marine mammal, and member of the clade Pinnipedia, residing in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, primarily in the arctic regions.  It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  The primary predators of Walrus are Polar Bears and Killer Whales, but the main threat to walruses is declining sea ice due to rising global temperatures and the rapidly advancing climate crisis. Walruses need sea ice for resting, socialization, giving birth and nursing young.  

3 Oct

Red Wolf

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Red Wolf (Canis rufus) is a canine native to the Southeastern United States.  It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Threats to the Red Wolf population include hunting by humans and hybridization by the coyote. As of 2023, there are approximately 35 individuals in the wild and about 270 red wolves in zoos and captive breeding programs across the U.S.

6 Oct

Vancouver Island Marmot

ballpoint

The Vancouver Island Marmot is endemic to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.  By conservative estimates, there are fewer than 200 marmot in the wild, based on field counts.  The primary threats to marmots include native predators, forest loss due to logging, and longer term predicted habitat loss associated with climate change.

9 Oct

Hangul

ballpoint

The only viable population of the Hangul, or Kashmir Stag, is in Dachigam National Park and adjoining protected areas in India. The Hangul is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Population estimates are fewer than 200 individuals in the wild.  Poaching, by both civilian and military personnel, was identified as the main cause of the decline of the Hangul. The problem is also likely due to the lack of commitment by protected area staff.  Incursion of nomadic livestock herders and predation of fawns by their guard dogs is reportedly also a significant problem that is not being effectively dealt with.

12 Oct

Brown Spider Monkey

ballpoint

Brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus) are found in Colombia and Venezuela.  The Brown Spider Monkey is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their greatest threat appears to be habitat alteration through farming, ranching and human settlements. They are also hunted for subsistence and for medicinal use.

15 Oct

Snow Leopard

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is found in 12 countries in Asia. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  The main threats are competition with livestock and retaliatory killing, habitat degradation and declines in prey, illegal trade in furs, bones and other body parts, climate change, mining, large scale infrastructure and barriers such as roads or fenced railway lines.

18 Oct

Caspian Seal

ballpoint

Caspian Seals (Pusa caspica) are found only in the Caspian Sea, with seasonal migration between the southern, middle, and northern basins.  They are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.  A 2015 estimate placed their population at about 34,000.  Threats to the seal population include hunting, disease, by-catch in illegal sturgeon fisheries and potentially climate change.

21 Oct

African Grey Parrot

ballpoint, PITT Shades of Grey

The Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus, has a distribution extending through various countries of Aftica. It is listed as endangered, with declining population, on the IUCN Red List. It is one of the most popular avian pets in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East due to its longevity and unparalleled ability to mimic human speech and other sounds.  The extent of the annual harvest of this species for international trade, in combination with the rate of ongoing habitat loss, are the main reasons for the population decline and IUCN classification. 

24 Oct

White’s Seahorse

ballpoint

White’s Seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, is a coastal seahorse that inhabits estuaries and areas with seagrasses, macroalgae, corals, sponges, and anthropogenic structures in some of the most densely populated areas in Australia. These areas are subject to a range of anthropogenic impacts, including coastal development, pollution, destructive boat anchoring, and sedimentation. This species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.  Recently, there have been documented population declines at several locations, primarily as a result of loss of important marine habitats such as soft corals and sponges.

27 Oct

Manatee

ballpoint

Manatees are marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows, and often referred to as gentle giants. All three species of manatees are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. They have struggled to coexist with humans. Among the threats are habitat loss due to rapid human population growth, and increased development along waterways resulting in the destruction of natural nesting areas that manatees rely on for survival. Water pollution causes algae outbreaks that kill seagrass — an important food source for manatees. 

30 Oct

Cuvier's Hutia

ballpoint

Cuvier's Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) is known to exist in only a few isolated areas on Hispaniola. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is herbivorous and eats numerous plants and local crops. It is considered to be an agricultural pest and is therefore often killed. It is also opportunistically hunted for food in Haiti.

31 Oct

Binturong

ballpoint

The binturong (Arctictis binturong), also known as the Bearcat, is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of a declining population. Major threats to the Binturong are hunting and habitat loss through logging and land development. 

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