In the “Endlings” series, Laura Ball depicts the last living members of a species or subspecies that has become, or is on the verge of becoming, extinct. Lonesome George was the last Pinta Island tortoise, and his discovery in 1971 propelled conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. Nola was one of four living members of the Northern White Rhinoceros subspecies, and was under the care of the San Diego Zoo until her death in November, 2015. Benjamin was the last captive Thylacine (a carnivorous marsupial) and died at the Beaumaris Zoo in Tasmania in 1936. Watch video footage of these beautiful creatures and zoom into the paintings to rediscover them through the eyes of Laura Ball.

From our interview with Laura Ball:

AWFC: You live very close to the San Diego Zoo and are a frequent visitor. How were you affected by the recent death of Nola, one of the last remaining Northern White Rhinos and a celebrated resident of the zoo?

Laura Ball: I am a frequent visitor to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. A few times I went to the park to catch a glimpse of Nola, and Angaifu, while they were both alive. The diminishing species is heartbreaking, and I get pretty upset about the loss of all endangered creatures, but having access to them made it so much more real in the case of the Northern White Rhinos. I have made several watercolors based on Nola and Angalifu, and I intend to keep using them as my subject matter, largely because I am so attached to them. The sadness is hard, but I think having true feelings about the work I make, adds a layer of depth to the work.

Trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and producing the oxygen we all need to breathe. Their roots prevent erosion by holding the soil intact and filter water by removing pollutants. With the reality of unpredictable weather patterns and more frequent and violent storms and floods, adding tree cover to prevent devastating soil erosion has never been more important. Forests are the habitat of many of our fellow creatures, and the loss of forests poses a threat to many species. Since launching The Canopy Project in 2010, Earth Day Network has planted tens of millions of trees, focusing on areas most in need of reforestation. Learn more about The Canopy Project and how you can help.

Can an extinct species rise again? In a field of study known as “de-extinction,” the finality of extinction has become the subject of scientific debate. In these videos, scientists offer differing perspectives on the feasibility, prudence and ethics of resurrecting extinct species.

The depiction of creatures comprised of many interwoven species is a poetic representation of the interconnectness of all living things. It also captures a scientific truth about many animal species, including humans: our bodies contain a multitude of organisms. Recent studies into the human microbiome reveal a diversity of ecosystems within the human body in which the number of microbial cells is more than ten times the number of human cells. Learn more about the human microbiome in this TED talk by microbial ecologist Rob Knight.

Many of the animals depicted in Laura Ball’s paintings are at risk due to loss of habitat, invasive species, over-harvesting, pollution and other human causes. Learn more about the world’s most endangered species in this interactive guide.

From our interview with Laura Ball:

AWFC:  Your compositions include a rich collection of different species from all over the world. You seem to be a collector by nature. Does this manifest itself in other areas of your life?

Laura Ball:  Calling me a collector is a really good label…maybe even an understatement. My home is filled to bursting with animal images and objects. I have an elephant pot in the front yard with succulents. Have hummingbird feeders that I fuss over, bird feeders, a large bird house – I have two cats and love having little creatures around. I have a collection of small wooden elephants, of horses, of rhinos. . . I can go on. I also have a large collection of succulents and cacti. It is really important for me to be surrounded by things I love and to see beautiful things everywhere I look.

Laura Ball’s work addresses the importance of biodiversity and the ongoing threat faced by endangered species. If you are inspired by her 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.