Painted Platter Features Most Trafficked Animal in the World: The Pangolin

Johannesburg-based artist Di Wilkinson completed a beautiful platter – featuring the precious and ruthlessly poached pangolin – the day before she was admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment regarding a life-threatening condition.

While Di has been facing extraordinary hurdles in her own battle for survival, and has lost both kidneys, she has focused her attention on raising awareness for endangered wildlife from rhinos to elephants and pangolins.

Tens of thousands of pangolins are being poached annually. It’s estimated that over a million have been killed in the past decade. The poaching is driven by a demand in Asia for the pangolin’s scales which are (incorrectly) believed to be a cure for a variety of things, and its flesh which is considered a delicacy.

Di’s daughter Legh said: “My mom finished painting this beautiful but challenging platter the day before she was admitted to hospital. Although still in hospital, the five blood transfusions she has had have picked her up and the water on her lungs has been drained. We continue to admire her strength.”

The platter honours ‘The Pangolin Men’, a group of men in Zimbabwe who have devoted their lives to saving a species so many people outside of Asia have never heard of.

In Di’s platter a young man is seen cradling his precious pangolin.

Legh said: “We are grateful for their hard work and dedication to this special species. We would also like to thank [photographer] Adrian Steirn for allowing us to use one of his images.”

As always, ALL FUNDS raised from the platter will be donated.

Watch a pangolin in the wild…

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The Platter Project:
www.facebook.com/ThePlatterProject/

Adrian Steirn:
https://www.facebook.com/adriansteirn/