The Mystery of Life

Pedro Jarque Krebs

Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos)
The Arctic wolf is one of the largest known wolf species. It lives in very remote and icy regions of Alaska and the north of North America and is characterized by its white fur. Despite inhabiting regions little frequented by humans, it is also endangered, particularly due to climate change and habitat loss.

POS PJ 296 24

$2,484

See Detail

Hippo love

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
The hippopotamus has been collateral damage from the elephant ivory trade ban, and its large teeth have been used as a replacement to supply the black market. Because they are not protected like elephants, they easily fall prey to poachers, and there are currently no laws to protect them.

POS PJ 296 25

$2,484

See Detail

We will survive

Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Giraffes, very popular and loved animals owing to their peculiar features, are also a species under threat and have officially been declared vulnerable. Their numbers have fallen by 40 per cent over the last 30 years. Deforestation, habitat loss due to farming and mining, armed conflicts, and sport hunting are largely responsible for the decline of this iconic species.

POS PJ 296 22

$2,484

See Detail

You are not alone

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
A recent study has found that we share around 99 per cent of our DNA with chimpanzees, making them our nearest relatives. From a genetic perspective, this makes them almost identical to ourselves.
It is estimated that around 200,000 remain in the world and are on the red list of endangered species.

POS PJ 296 23

$2,484

See Detail

More precious than gold

White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
USD 60,000 a kilo that's what a rhino horn costs on the black market. More expensive than gold. But life is priceless. Unlike elephant tusks, made of ivory, rhino horns are made of keratin, the same material as nails. But the ignorance and superstition of some humans give it non-existent medicinal properties. As in everything, there will be sellers as long as there are buyers.

POS PJ 296 21

$2,484

See Detail

The Messengers

Southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)
The southern ground hornbill is the subject of many myths and beliefs among African peoples. For some, it is a protector of weather problems. For others, it is a messenger of death. It is even thought to give powers to a person, to have the ability to make dreams come true or to be a means to get rid of evil spirits.

POS PJ 296 20

$2,484

See Detail

Never more

Crow (Corvus corax)
Crows are highly intelligent animals. Their problem-solving and cause-effect knowledge is estimated to be equivalent to that of a 5-year-old child. They are capable of building tools and solving complex problems. Their intelligence is often compared to that of an adult chimpanzee.

POS PJ 296 19

$2,484

See Detail

The Senators

Mantled guereza or Eastern black-and-white Colobus (Colobus guereza)
Endemic to equatorial Africa, this primate has only four fingers on its hands, with an atrophied or non-existent thumb, which allows it great agility in the trees.

POS PJ 296 18

$2,484

See Detail

Female power

White Lioness (Panthera leo candidus)
There are 300 white lions in the world, and they owe their colour to a rare genetic mutation that cannot survive long in the wild, as they do not have the natural camouflage. In certain African tribes, a white lion is considered sacred. Female lionesses can weigh 180 kg and measure up to 2.5 meters standing on their hind legs. They are extremely powerful.

POS PJ 296 17

$2,484

See Detail

The reborn

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian lynx, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), is one of the most endangered felines in the world. There are currently 856 wild specimens and 140 in captivity, although the good news is that this population is 22% higher than the previous year, thanks to protection and recovery campaigns.

POS PJ 296 16

$2,484

See Detail

The Hypnotists

Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
The eyes of owls capture light one hundred times better than our own, but are practically unable to move. To compensate, owls can rotate their heads 135 degrees in any direction, giving them a 270-degree total field of vision. They are a vital link in the food chain, and their numbers have also been affected by habitat loss.

POS PJ 296 15

$4,350

See Detail

Hope

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Elephants are extremely intelligent and social animals. They have a brain structure similar to that of humans and are capable of experiencing grief, compassion, cooperation, and self-awareness. Baby elephants are cared for by their mothers, but the other females of the group, which has a matriarchal structure, also participate. In this way, the young female elephants are trained in their future role as mothers.

POS PJ 296 14

$4,350

See Detail

Food Chain

Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
The pelican's beak, which has a large pouch, can carry up to 12 litres of water or hold about three buckets of fish and drain the remaining water. This organ is also used for breathing in the absence of nostrils.

POS PJ 296 12

$2,484

See Detail

Panda love

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
The particular charms of the giant panda have managed to bring it back from the brink of extinction, and major panda conservation programs have been set up. In China, prison sentences of up to 20 years are penalties for people attempting to hunt them.

POS PJ 296 11

$4,350

See Detail

Curiosity

Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
Gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans are the genetically closest animals to humans. But there is a paradox. Chimpanzees share 99 per cent of our DNA, meaning that there is less than a one per cent difference between us, but gorillas and humans share part of that one per cent that differentiates us from chimpanzees. Therefore, scientists are curious to find what exactly makes us Homo sapiens.

POS PJ 296 10

$2,484

See Detail

Conspiracy

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx,)
The mandrill is one of the most colourful mammals. The males are characterized by having very striking colours on the face and butt, which have a function of sexual attraction and also to locate each other in the thick forests where it lives. Their territory is limited to a small region of West Africa, and it is an endangered species.

POS PJ 296 09

$2,484

See Detail

Double trouble

Zebra (Equus quagga)
While Westerners believe that zebras are white with black stripes, Africans believe they are black with white stripes. Studies have concluded that in their fetal stage, their pigmentation is black, which they later lose in the areas where the white stripes appear. There are three zebra species with nine subspecies. Attempts to use zebras in the same way as horses failed because of their nervous and flighty nature.

POS PJ 296 08

See Detail

Two crowns

Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum)
The Grey Crowned Crane is considered a symbol of longevity and wealth in Rwanda. Coveted by wealthy people who want it as a pet, this species is a victim of its beauty. In the last 45 years, its population has fallen by 80%. According to Greek mythology, the flight of a crane inspired the god Hermes to invent the Greek alphabet. And in Taoism, this bird represents longevity and immortality.

POS PJ 296 07

See Detail

Siberian fight

Siberian tiger (Panthera Tigris Altaica)
Two young tigers perfect fighting techniques while cooling off in the water. Play is a form of training for tigers in fighting and many other mammals.
The tiger is the world's largest feline, and this subspecies lives in regions of Russia and China. In 2005 there were fewer than 400 individuals, but its population continues to decline.

POS PJ 296 06

See Detail

The Anatomy Lesson

Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Otters are extremely sociable and weave close family bonds. They were for years coveted for their pelts, and the fur industry almost wiped them out. This otter species are endemic to the Amazon, which is critically endangered. There are less than 5,000 otters left in the wild and only a few in captivity.

POS PJ 296 05

$4,350

See Detail

The Sect

Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus)
The large flying fox is a rare and endangered species. Its habitat is restricted to the Philippines. Feeding mainly on fruit, it assists in the process of pollination and plant dispersal by spitting out seeds. It is the victim of poaching and deforestation, and the lack of interest in its preservation has led to a worrying fall in numbers.

POS PJ 296 04

$4,350

See Detail

Eboy & Ivory

Jaguar (Panthera onca)
America belonged to the jaguars. Considered a god by pre-Columbian peoples, it is the largest cat in America and third in size after the lion and tiger. Its only predator is man, so its population has been drastically reduced. Illegal trade still exists despite being a protected species, and it is already on the red list of threatened species.

POS PJ 296 03

See Detail

Lawless gang

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
The cheetah is a big cat especially known for being the fastest land animal. It can reach up to 110 km/hr. But it's also one of the least aggressive. They need large areas to live in, and the reduction of their habitat and the bad habit of being acquired as pets as a status symbol continue to decrease its population. Currently, less than 10,000 specimens are left in the world, and it is seriously endangered.

POS PJ 296 02

See Detail

Black Friday

American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
A battle between flamingos. It's spring and mating time. The rivalry for the females' attention causes the males to unleash all their weapons.

POS PJ 296 01

See Detail

The Mystery of Life

Pedro Jarque Krebs

The word "Animal" comes from the Latin "Anima" and, in turn, from the Greek "Anemos", meaning wind and breath, which are symbols of life. The breath of life in many beliefs and religions.
All living organisms share in the mystery of life. Science has provided some understanding of the complex mechanisms that allow life to develop. Still, despite much philosophical reflection, the ultimate question of life's origin and purpose remains unanswered.