About

"Loving the unloved"

This is the motto of my work in the Species Gallery. What does it mean? Who's the unloved?

My friends, if you go to a zoo, what animals are you most looking forward too? Is it the massive elephants bathing in the water? Is it the tigers or lions who sleep all day? Or is it the capybaras and the alpacas who's reputation has been elevated through the collective power of the internet? These are all great animals in their own right with their own purpose on this world, all animals are. Those animals I mentioned are what we call the "charismatic species", which are animals that are very well-known to a lot of people, making them very popular and liked by a lot of people. But, how about those "non-charismatic" animals? It often break my heart when in zoos, aquariums, or elsewhere with animals, the more obscure or less-recognized animals are just skipped over and ignored by other people, even by a lot of so-called animal or zoo/aquarium lovers. In some cases, I'll be one of only the handful of people who stayed for a while to observe these animals. When I talk and post about animal species, it's quite a shame that a lot of people seems to care a bit more about the charismatic animals, even when I put some less-known species to attention. Even when talking about animals, popularity biases are still very much apparent in a lot of circles. 

Because, the thing is, it's worth mentioning that a lot of these uncharismatic and less-talked-about animals are on the brink of extinction and with conservation efforts that is either only underwent by a few facilities or even none at all. These little attentions often means that they're often ignored and underfunded by a lot of institutions like governments, transnational conservational organizations, and other major relevant parties that has the influence to significantly help in any way to ensure the survival of these animals, the environment they lives in, and also to educate and bring welfare to the people who lives alongside nature. As long as these major parties shows little interests in these goals, unregulated man-made destructions like mass logging, mining, industrial-scale fishing, whaling, recreational hunting, artificial pesticide uses, and so many others will continue to further erode the already fragile populations of certain species and the environment they lives in.

It is my mission to love the unloved, to bring more attention to certain (sub)species that is otherwise ignored by the general public and government institutions.

Despite the project also include ex-situ sites like zoos and animals in private care, I condemn the practises seen in captivity that are geared towards mere entertainment. Throughout my visits, there are a handful of places or facilities where some form of mistreatment of animals are not only practiced, but are also normalized and capitalized. More often than not, these practises are for the sake of the institutions own interest. Some, if not most, of the photos taken here are taken in such places. This gallery and myself are not condoning these horrible practises.

There's a massive difference between an conservational learning facilities and an amusement park with pets masked as an family-friendly edutaintment holiday destination, or a genuine wildlife facility that took care of the inhabitants properly and a collection that are curated to satisfy certain individual's problematic view of animal relationship to humans. It's important for viewers and myself to keep this in mind. 

One of the purpose of this gallery is to document certain species and breeds where some have short record of being properly documented,  which are more often than not have been reported to be found in captivity, especially in their native range. Additionaly, some domestic breeds of pets, including birds or fishes like certain breeds of chickens or goldfish, are often bred to create extreme physical mutations that can be a health detriment for them that result in discomfort, physical suffering, and a short live, just for the sake of being an "ornament".

I attemp to fulfill this purpose while trying to minimize any profit given to some holders. As a last note and plead from me to the viewers, please enjoy seeing the natural attractions of wildlife and the appeal of certain captive breeds, while also calling out and educate yourself on the problematic practises seen in captivity, which have sadly been institutionalized in some cases.

Personally, it always feel satisfying to be able to find and photograph certain animals in the wild. It definitely shows how your hard efforts, physically and financially, pays out  succesfully. My first ever experience that I find impresive is to be able to photograph the black-striped squirrel (Callosciurus nigrovittatus nigrovittatus) in West Java. I'm always looking forward for the next occasions to travel to various regions in Indonesia and also around the world, in search for further animals to be added into the Species Gallery.

(Muhammad Farrel Nandito, 2024)