Keep Me Wild! by Maba Jaffar

Keep Me Wild by Maba

The Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi), or known as Harimau Dahan in Malay, has a stocky build, weighing about 25 kg (55 pounds), is the largest predator in Borneo. The majority of its prey lives in trees, necessitating its excellent climbing skills. With short, flexible legs, large paws, and keen claws, this big cat is very sure-footed. It is also found on Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the Malay Archipelago.

Because the Bornean Clouded Leopard's habits make it difficult to study, exact figures of its population do not exist. However, recent studies estimate the population to be between 5,000 and 11,000 great cats left on Borneo, and 3,000 to 7,000 on Sumatra. In Malaysia, hunting of the Clouded Leopard is prohibited.

However, encroachment upon and complete destruction of the Bornean Clouded Leopards' natural habitat, primarily by logging and the creation of rubber and palm oil plantations, continues to threaten the whole fauna of Borneo.

“Keep Me Wild” is a symbolic representation of the artist’s emotional state. Just like the Clouded Leopard, it simply wants to be wild and free. This is also an appeal to all of us, to be aware and sensitive of our precious heritage, the rainforests and their inhabitants, and to help to conserve them.

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Keep Me Wild 2 by Maba

Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)
The smallest among the bear family, the Malayan Sun Bears measure from 100 to 150 centimetres and weigh between 27 and 65 kilograms with the males being slightly larger. Sun bears have short, sleek black fur with a golden or white coloured crescent shape on their chests and the same lighter colour around their muzzles and eyes.
These wonderful creatures prefer lowland tropical rain forests and are quite arboreal and are believed to sleep in trees. They are found in south-east Asia, Bangladesh, India, and southern China.

Habitat loss in the bear's range is of major concern. As the tropical rainforest homes are being destroyed at an alarming rate the sun bears may be declining faster than any other bears and will probably disappear from some areas. Other concerns include the pet trade, poaching for food and fur, and the Asian medicinal trade.

“Keep Me Wild 2” This is the second artwork in the “Keep Me Wild” series by Maba. As the name implies, the painter is also referring the theme to her inner self. Wild, as in free to roam the planet!