Mrinmayi Dalvi — Creature Conserve

Mrinmayi Dalvi:

2023 Creature conserve scholarship recipient
2023 Exhibiting Artist

1. Image of the public awareness art installation crafted from confiscated snares, highlighting the local species in wildlife trade..png

2. A poster created as a tool to educate the viewer and create awareness about illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade.png

3. Image of the collected data and research conducted to effectively bring forward a data driven, informed project..png

4. Images of created prototypes for conservation through play- 1. Ecosystem jenga- used in helping kids in understanding the interdependence and significance of each organism in the ecosystem. 2 . A leopard in an urban maze- used to help k.png

5. Image of 1. A tiger caught in a snare (photo courtesy WCS India) 2. Working with the confiscated traps to use in the art installation..png

6. A poster created to inform the public about the consequences of illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade..png

7. Image of the archive of education and awareness resources created and curated on my website, to combat unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade. .png

Snaring Survival

“As our world bends under the burden of consumerism on several ecological levels, wildlife trade is its direct example of humility and compassion remaining an afterthought, prioritized beneath our wants. - where a souvenir is often worth more than a life. Beyond ethical concerns, the unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade also emerges as a significant threat to biodiversity and human well-being, fueled primarily by public demand for wildlife-sourced products.
To address this issue at the demand end of the network of wildlife trade, I initiated the project 'Snaring Survival' as a multifaceted wildlife conservation-education and awareness initiative that includes an art installation crafted from real wire snare traps confiscated from poachers, as well as prototyping other conservation education tools. Snares are often a major tool in the trade of wildlife hunting and poaching- A practice that targets wild animals for purposes such as the pet trade, meat consumption, in alleged medicinal use, and even occult rituals rooted in superstitious beliefs.
‘Snaring Survival’ aims to foster a dialogue among the public about the sourcing of wildlife products and its consequences, offering infographics, and other curated resources to combat this perilous trade.The art installation placed in public spaces serves as a poignant reminder of our potential impact in the illegal wildlife trade cycle, highlighting local species frequently victimized along with the products derived from them. Given the graphic nature of wildlife trade, creative educational tools such as art and interactive games become crucial in conveying the gravity of threats to biodiversity, making platforms like Creature Conserve indispensable in the current conservation landscape”

Mrinmayi Dalvi is a wildlife artist and conservationist based in India, which hosts some of the highest biodiversity in the world. The privilege of having access to nature right at her doorstep has been among the greatest drivers that leads her to protect, advocate for, and communicate the beauty in the intricacies of our natural world.

Mrinmayi’s educational background and experience in wildlife conservation and research help her find methods to stay informed and address important conservation issues through art and at times the written word, while with her natural science illustration work, she tries to make research more accessible, and generate a sense of interest and relatability towards nature within people.

India

Instagram: @aranyagaatha

Website: www.aranyagaatha.wordpress.com

Mrinmayi Dalvi:

2023 Creature conserve scholarship recipient

2023 Exhibiting Artist

Snaring Survival