Alyssa Danielle- Hawksbill Turtle and Hippopotamus

Fired ceramic hand-painted with acrylics. This series merges threatened animals from the IUCN Red List into single organisms to highlight global habitat loss. To make a heavy topic easy to digest, I sculpt these creatures with a friendly, nostalgic, teddy bear-like aesthetic. This approachable design invites viewers to connect deeply with wildlife conservation rather than turning away from it. This piece combines a Hawksbill Turtle and a Hippopotamus. Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are Critically Endangered; their populations have plummeted by over 80% due to the illegal tortoiseshell trade and marine habitat degradation. The Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is considered Vulnerable. It faces a high risk of future extinction driven by agricultural land expansion, shrinking river systems, and unregulated hunting for its meat and teeth.

7" x 6.25" x 7.75"

50% of the proceeds from this piece will be donated to IUCN Red List to support their conservation efforts. To learn more about IUCN Red List please visit https://iconicspecies.iucnredlist.org/

To see more of Alyssa's work be sure to follow on Instagram @alyssadaniellesculptor