Sonoran Desert Ecosystem
Daniel Kukla, 2011, c-print, 9.375″ x 14″, © 2011, courtesy of the artist
Daniel Kukla
Daniel Kukla is a photographer whose work explores the complex relationship between humanity and the natural world. In a compelling body of work entitled “Captive Landscapes,” Kukla documents the constructed habitats of captive wild animals living in zoos across the United States and Europe. These habitats, which are an attempt to present wildlife in their natural context, reveal our desire to experience nature and connect with the Earth’s wild creatures. However, they also reveal humanity’s tendency to view wildlife as a commodity to be extracted and processed into ready-made forms for human consumption. In these images, Kukla invites us to “explore the motivations behind collecting, preserving, and controlling the natural world.” Kukla may also be projecting a possible future in which wild species and their natural habitats continue to disappear and feral survivors are relegated to manufactured environments. Will our collective conservation efforts alter this trajectory by preserving natural habitats for future generations of animals and their human admirers?
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In the words of the artist: “We, as humans, go to great lengths to satisfy our desire for a connection with the natural world, especially in our interactions with wild and exotic animals. Zoos are the primary site for this relationship, but they often obscure the conflicts inherent in maintaining and displaying captive wild animals. In this series, I photographed the interiors of animal enclosures at 12 different zoos across the U.S and Europe. These images invite the viewer to question the role of these constructed habitats, and explore the motivations behind collecting, preserving, and controlling the natural world.”
Primary Growth Rainforest
Daniel Kukla, 2011, c-print, 9.375″ x 14″, © 2011, courtesy of the artist
Primary growth forests are forests that have not been disturbed by humans. These forests support a diversity of life and often contain trees that are several hundred years old. Forests play a critical role in the carbon cycle, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Learn more about the different types of rainforests in this post and interactive guide.
Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate, animals and plants. There are terrestrial biomes (land) and aquatic biomes, both freshwater and marine. In this body of work, Kukla photographs reproductions of several land biomes: desert, temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest, and savannah, as well as aquatic biomes: intertidal zone, wetlands, and riparian zone. Learn more about biomes in this interactive map of the world’s biomes, and test your knowledge by building your own biome in this educational game.
Modern zoos juggle multiple objectives, including entertainment of the public and management of conservation efforts, such as breeding programs and “frozen zoos.” As described in thisarticle by National Geographic, the pursuit of multiple objectives often creates challenging choices for zoos. Over their history, zoos have had to adapt to changes in the public perception of captive wildlife, as well as the growing threats to species survival in the wild. Learn more about the evolution of zoos and their possible future in thisengaging article.
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Daniel Kukla explores our conflicted relationship to the natural world in his photographs of constructed habitats within zoos. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.