Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat by artists Gillie and Marc

LOCATIONS

EDITION 1 - SINGAPORE - 19 May 2023 - 18 May 2024
Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Visit the sculpture, click for map >

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CLICK HERE TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO WWF > 

NAME
Go Forth Lee & Nina

TITLE
Love The Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat

GENDER
Male, Female

AGE
3 and 4

FOUND
Australia

CONSERVATION STATUS
Critically Endangered

Go Forth Lee is 3-years-old and is very proud of his warren. He took over a system from an old wombat and expanded it, it’s so much bigger now! He is critically endangered but so happy the humans have finally decided to give his species a helping hand. But there are still many predators he has to watch out for and because his population size is so small he must be careful not to mate with anyone he’s related to. Luckily for him, he has beautiful Nina by his side, another wombat from his community. 

The wombat, the round-bottomed, snub-nosed, absolutely adorable Aussie animal. Wombats may look ungainly but they are actually very quick, reaching speeds of up to 40 km/hr! There are three species of wombat, the most endangered being the northern hairy-nosed wombat with only 250 left in the wild. They once lived throughout New South Wales and Victoria but can now only be found in the Epping Forest National Park. The largest it's kind, it also has the softest fur and wonderful fine whiskers.

These wombats live a solitary life, building warrens with large and complex tunnel systems deep beneath the sand. These are huge and can cover an area of up to 300 hectares. They are nocturnal animals but will still sit out in the sun on winter mornings and afternoons to warm up. They are herbivores and love to eat roots, herbs, and different grasses.

Northern hairy-nosed wombats are monogamous and mother's will give birth to one baby at a time. As wombats are marsupials, the babies will climb into their mothers’ pouch not fully developed, where it will continue to develop for 6-9 months. They will leave their mother when they reach a year old. 

In the early 20th century, the northern hairy-nosed wombat was thought to be extinct. Luckily that was not true. Even so, there is still a long way for them to go before they are out of the danger zone. Competing with livestock, one of the main threats is a shortage of food. Now, the cows aren't so much of an issue, but the eastern grey kangaroo is still there to munch away their grass. There are also threats of predation from wild dogs, risks from drought, floods and fires, disease, and of course all of the risks that come with having such a tiny population size (like genetic diversity). A lot of wonderful work has been put into conservation efforts for this adorable marsupial such as habitat protection and the creation of a second colony. But there is still a lot more work to be done. 

HOW TO HELP 

Inspired by animals that Gillie and Marc met on their travels, we invite the public to discover and interact with these beautiful creatures up close and personal – this allows audiences to connect, take photographs and share their favourite species with friends and family.

With more exposure comes more awareness and builds on the love we already have for animals around the world. With love comes a greater sense of urgency to create a change and save all endangered animals. 

​The sculpture will be aligned with the hashtag #LoveTheLast to raise unparalleled awareness about the sculpture’s cause across the globe.

To help protect these animals, please donate to the WWF: https://www.wwf.sg/

PARTNER


WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As one of WWF’s international hubs, WWF-Singapore supports a global network spanning over 100 countries. We work to meet key conservation goals, such as deforestation, haze pollution, food security, sustainable finance, sustainable consumption and illegal wildlife trade.

For more information, visit https://www.wwf.sg


ABOUT GILLIE AND MARC

Gillie and Marc’s highly coveted public artworks can be found worldwide including in New York, London, Singapore, Shanghai, and Sydney. They are Archibald Prize finalists, won the Chianciano Biennale in Italy, took out the Allens People’s Choice Award in 2016 and 2018 and Kids’ Choice Award in the 2016 Sculpture by the Sea and received the Bayside Arts Festival People's Choice Award in 2019 in Sydney.

The husband-and-wife duo are on a mission to make art for a better tomorrow. They are best known for their beloved characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, who tell the autobiographical tale of two opposites coming together as best friends and soul mates.

Gillie and Marc are also passionate eco-warriors and have dedicated their lives to protecting nature.

Gillie grew up with the wildlife in Zambia and Marc studied chimpanzees in Tanzania as a young man. Over time, the artists developed a deep appreciation for all living things and a desire to preserve the magnificence of the natural world. 

Gillie and Marc’s mission is to save species from extinction. Through their practices, they are transforming passive audiences into passionate advocates for animal conservation, spreading awareness about endangered species and leading to change.

Their art has raised hundreds of thousands in donations for the many wildlife charities and causes they support through their project Love The Last.

Please follow @gillieandmarcart 

If you are interested in buying art related to the Love the Last March, you will also be directly helping real animals in the wild, with 30% of sales going to WWF to continue their fantastic work for animal conservation. Click here to browse art > https://gillieandmarc.com/collections/love-the-last-march

SPONSORED BY
Edwards