02/4/22

Winners of the 2021 Kids Art Contest hosted by Frogs Are Green

Announcing the winners of the 12th annual kids art contest (2021) hosted by Frogs Are Green. Thank you to all the students who participated along with the teachers and parents who helped us showcase what children are thinking and learning about around the world. We received a total of 651 artworks from 21 countries.

There was incredible variety in the materials used as well as subject matter. So many thoughtful topics such as:  why whales are getting caught in nets and what should we do; protecting endangered animals and habitats; and animals that are going extinct.

Also, here are the links to the 4 Flickr galleries if you wish to see all the artwork submitted.

Flickr Galleries:

Age group 3-6 – Kids Art Contest 2021

Age group 7-9 – Kids Art Contest 2021

Age group 10-12 – Kids Art Contest 2021

Age group 13-18 – Kids Art Contest 2021

And here are some important articles:

Articles on Protecting Endangered Species:

15 Actions to Protect Endangered Species

Protecting Species – WWF

Protecting Wildlife for a Healthy Planet – WWF

10 Ways to Help Endangered Species

Protecting Endangered Species – National Wildlife Federation

IUCN’s New “Green Status of Species” Measures Impact of Conservation Action

Thank you all and warm regards, 
Susan Newman Lerer, founder and president
Frogs Are Green Inc. A New Jersey nonprofit organization.

To download your participation certificate, click here >>

Winners – ages 3-6

1st-Place-Dhruv Ganesh,6 years,CT USA, 2021

1st-Place-Dhruv Ganesh,6 years,CT USA, 2021

2nd-Place-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021

2nd-Place-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021

3rd-Place-Vedanth R Padmanaban, 6 yrs old, Ontario, Canada, 2021, protecting endangered species

3rd-Place-Vedanth R Padmanaban, 6 yrs old, Ontario, Canada, 2021, protecting endangered species

4th-Place-Sun Siying, 6. China, The bottom of the sea is so beautiful

4th-Place-Sun Siying, 6. China, The bottom of the sea is so beautiful

Liu Yiyi, 4 yrs old, China, Future underwater world

Liu Yiyi, 4 yrs old, China, Future underwater world

Shum Ching Yin, 4 yrs old, Hong Kong

Shum Ching Yin, 4 yrs old, Hong Kong

Tong Xihan, 6, China, One family, 2021

Tong Xihan, 6, China, One family, 2021

Wong Yin Hei, 5 yrs old, Hong Kong

Wong Yin Hei, 5 yrs old, Hong Kong

1st-Place-Dhruv Ganesh,6 years,CT USA, 2021 thumbnail
2nd-Place-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021 thumbnail
3rd-Place-Vedanth R Padmanaban, 6 yrs old, Ontario, Canada, 2021, protecting endangered species thumbnail
4th-Place-Sun Siying, 6. China, The bottom of the sea is so beautiful thumbnail
Liu Yiyi, 4, China, Future underwater world thumbnail
Shum Ching Yin_4yrs_Hong Kong thumbnail
Tong Xihan, 6, China, One family, 2021 thumbnail
Wong yin hei_5yrs_HongKong_TP thumbnail

1st Place: Dhruv Ganesh, 6 years old, CT., USA
2nd Place: Huang Jue, 4 years old, China
3rd Place: Vedanth R. Padmanaban, 6 years old, Ontario, Canada
4th Place: Sun Siying, 6 years old, China

Honorable Mention:

Liu Yiyi, 4 years old, China
Shum Ching Yin, 4 years old, Hong Kong
Tong Xihan, 6 years old, China
Wong Yin Hei, 5 years old, Hong Kong

Winners – ages 7-9

1st-Place-Luo Ai, 9, China, A future without frogs

1st-Place-Luo Ai, 9, China, A future without frogs

2nd-Place-Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle

2nd-Place-Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle

3rd-Place-Tang Mi, 7, China, Thin wing

3rd-Place-Tang Mi, 7, China, Thin wing

4th-Place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years, Jersey city , USA

4th-Place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years, Jersey city , USA

Khoraphat Whaiprib , age 7 , Thailand

Khoraphat Whaiprib , age 7 , Thailand

Xu Yitong, 7, China, The silence of the stork, 2021

Xu Yitong, 7, China, The silence of the stork, 2021

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

1st-Place-Luo Ai, 9, China, A future without frogs thumbnail
2nd-Place-Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle thumbnail
3rd-Place-Tang Mi, 7, China, Thin wing thumbnail
4th-Place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years, Jersey city , USA thumbnail
Khoraphat Whaiprib , age 7 , Thailand thumbnail
Xu Yitong, 7, China, The silence of the stork, 2021 thumbnail
Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros thumbnail
Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale thumbnail

1st Place: Luo Ai, 9 years old, China, A Future Without Frogs
2nd Place: Wu Yutong, 7 years old, China, Sea Turtle
3rd Place: Tang Mi, 7 years old, China, Thin Wing
4th Place: Siddhi Jain, 9 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA

Honorable Mention:

Khoraphat Whaiprib, 7 years old, Thailand
Xu Yitong, 7 years old, China, The Silence of the Stork
Zhao Ziqi, 9 years old, China, Sad Rhino
Zhao Ziqi, 9 years old, China, End of the Whale

Winners – ages 10-12

1st-Place-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink

1st-Place-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink

2nd-Place-Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador

2nd-Place-Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador

3rd-Place-Li Peilin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021

3rd-Place-Li Peilin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021

4th-Place-Paphamat Napattalung , age 11 , Thailand

4th-Place-Paphamat Napattalung , age 11 , Thailand

Aneurin Reyes, 12 years old, PS# 11, Jersey City, NJ, USA

Aneurin Reyes, 12 years old, PS# 11, Jersey City, NJ, USA

Deng Chu Yu, 11 years old, Hong Kong

Deng Chu Yu, 11 years old, Hong Kong

Liu Xinran, 10, China, Guard

Liu Xinran, 10, China, Guard

Marina Katzarska, 11 years old, Bulgaria

Marina Katzarska, 11 years old, Bulgaria

1st-Place-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink thumbnail
2nd-Place-Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador thumbnail
3rd-Place-Li Peilin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021 thumbnail
4th-Place-Paphamat Napattalung , age 11 , Thailand thumbnail
Aneurin Reyes Grade 7-Age 12PS #11. Jersey City, New Jersey thumbnail
DengChuYu_11yrs_HongKong thumbnail
Liu Xinran, 10, China, Guard thumbnail
MARINA KATZARSKA, 11 years, BULGARIA thumbnail

1st Place: Huang Ruimeng, 11 years old, China, GroupThink
2nd Place: Li Yi, 10 years old, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador
3rd Place: Li Peilin, 12 years old, China, Endangered Marine Animals
4th Place: Paphamat Napattalung, 11 years old, Thailand

Honorable Mention:

Aneurin Reyes, 12 years old, PS #11, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Deng Chu Yu, 11 years old, Hong Kong
Liu Xinran, 10 years old, China
Marina Katzarska, 11 years old, Bulgaria

Winners – ages 13-18

1st-Place-Jose Torres 16 Liberty HS Jersey City USA

1st-Place-Jose Torres 16 Liberty HS Jersey City USA

2nd-Place-Shangguan Jiamu, 15, China, Territory

2nd-Place-Shangguan Jiamu, 15, China, Territory

3rd-Place-Setthasan Jirathanaprasert, Age 16, Thailand, 2021

3rd-Place-Setthasan Jirathanaprasert, Age 16, Thailand, 2021

4th-Place-Makaila Kim, 16 years old, CA, USA, 3d ceramic, Precious Lives Are In Our Hands

4th-Place-Makaila Kim, 16 years old, CA, USA, 3d ceramic, Precious Lives Are In Our Hands

Daylin Corimayta, 14 yrs old, JC, NJ, USA, McNair Academic HS, Heroes In the Blue

Daylin Corimayta, 14 yrs old, JC, NJ, USA, McNair Academic HS, Heroes In the Blue

Ke Jiale, 16, China, Survival or destruction

Ke Jiale, 16, China, Survival or destruction

Navia Lam, 13 years old, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, The Life of a Madagascar Ring-Tailed Lemur

Navia Lam, 13 years old, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, The Life of a Madagascar Ring-Tailed Lemur

Riya Jain, 18 years old, India, 2021

Riya Jain, 18 years old, India, 2021

Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

1st-Place-Jose Torres 16 Liberty HS Jersey City USA thumbnail
2nd-Place-Shangguan Jiamu, 15, China, Territory thumbnail
3rd-Place-Setthasan Jirathanaprasert, Age 16, Thailand, 2021 thumbnail
4th-Place-Makaila Kim, 16 years old, CA, USA, 3d ceramic, Precious Lives Are In Our Hands thumbnail
Daylin Corimayta, 14 yrs old, JC, NJ, USA, McNair Academic HS, Heroes In the Blue thumbnail
Ke Jiale, 16, China, Survival or destruction thumbnail
Navia Lam, 13 years old, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, The Life of a Madagascar Ring-Tailed Lemur thumbnail
Riya Jain, 18 years old, India, 2021 thumbnail
Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021 thumbnail

1st Place: Jose Torres, 16 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA
2nd Place: Shangguan Jiamu, 15 years old, China
3rd Place: Setthasan Jirathanaprasert, 16 years old, Thailand
4th Place: Makaila Kim, 16 years old, CA, USA

Honorable Mention:

Darlin Corimayta, 14 years old, McNair HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Ke Jiale, 16 years old, China
Navia Lam, 13 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Riya Jain, 18 years old, India
Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA

Winners – Best Environmental

1st place, Daniel Lee, 16 years old, CA, USA, environmental 2021, Cut Out The Harmful

1st place, Daniel Lee, 16 years old, CA, USA, environmental 2021, Cut Out The Harmful

2nd place, Mingxian Zhu, 16, China, Collapse, 2021, best environmental

2nd place, Mingxian Zhu, 16, China, Collapse, 2021, best environmental

3rd Place, Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale, 2021, best environmental

3rd Place, Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale, 2021, best environmental

4th Place, Hiranyika Aphithanang, age 13, Thailand, 2021 best environmental

4th Place, Hiranyika Aphithanang, age 13, Thailand, 2021 best environmental

Leung Bosco, 6 yrs old, Hong Kong, 2021 best environmental

Leung Bosco, 6 yrs old, Hong Kong, 2021 best environmental

Luo Ai, 9 years old, China, A future without frogs, 2021-best environmental

Luo Ai, 9 years old, China, A future without frogs, 2021-best environmental

Mia Woodard, 13 years old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021, best environmental

Mia Woodard, 13 years old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021, best environmental

Paphamat Napattalung, 11 years old, Thailand, 2021 best environmental

Paphamat Napattalung, 11 years old, Thailand, 2021 best environmental

Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

1st place, Daniel Lee, 16 years old, CA, USA, environmental 2021, Cut Out The Harmful thumbnail
2nd place, Mingxian Zhu, 16, China, Collapse, 2021, best enviro thumbnail
3rd Place, Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale, 2021, best enviro thumbnail
4th Place, Hiranyika Aphithanang, age 13, Thailand, 2021 best enviro thumbnail
Leung Bosco, 6 yrs old, Hong Kong, 2021 best environmental thumbnail
Luo Ai, 9 years old, China, A future without frogs, 2021-best enviro thumbnail
Mia Woodard, 13 years old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021, best enviro thumbnail
Paphamat Napattalung, 11 years old, Thailand, 2021 best enviro thumbnail
Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021 thumbnail

1st Place: Daniel Lee, 16 years old, CA, USA, Cut out the harmful
2nd Place: Mingxian Zhu, 16, China
3rd Place: Zhao Ziqi, 9 years old, China, Sculpture, The end of the whale
4th Place: Hiranyika Aphithanang, 13 years old, Thailand

Honorable Mention:

Luo Ai, 9 years old, China, A future without frogs
Leung Bosco, 6 years old, Hong Kong, endangered animal stamps
Mia Woodard, 13 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Paphamat Napattalung, 11 years old, Thailand
Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3d cardboard and ceramic, Marin friend rescue plane

Winners – Best 3D

1st-Place-Best-3D-Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

1st-Place-Best-3D-Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

2nd-Place-Best-3D-Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

2nd-Place-Best-3D-Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021

3rd-Place-Best-3D-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021

3rd-Place-Best-3D-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021

Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle

Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

Ethan Cho, 10 years old, CA, USA-2021

Ethan Cho, 10 years old, CA, USA-2021

1st-Place-Best-3D-Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros thumbnail
2nd-Place-Best-3D-Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021 thumbnail
3rd-Place-Best-3D-Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021 thumbnail
Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle thumbnail
Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale thumbnail
Ethan Cho, 10 years old, CA, USA-2021 thumbnail

1st Place: Best 3D: Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-sad rhinoceros
2nd Place: Best 3D: Solomon Chang, 14 years old, CA, USA, 3D cardboard and ceramic, Marin Friend Rescue Plane, 2021
3rd Place: Best 3D: Huang Jue, 4, China, porcelain sculpture-Whale flying quickly, 2021

Honorable Mention:

Wu Yutong, 7, China, porcelain sculpture-Sea turtle
Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale
Ethan Cho, 10 years old, CA, USA-2021

Winners – Best Black and White

1st-place-Nattika Chaipiriyapitak, 13 years old, Thailand, 2021

1st-place-Nattika Chaipiriyapitak, 13 years old, Thailand, 2021

2nd-place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years old, Jersey city, USA, 2021, Save us, there is no place for us

2nd-place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years old, Jersey city, USA, 2021, Save us, there is no place for us

3rd-place-Augustina Guerrero, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

3rd-place-Augustina Guerrero, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

4th-place-Kanyanan Jirathanaprasert, Age 13, Thailand, 2021

4th-place-Kanyanan Jirathanaprasert, Age 13, Thailand, 2021

Amara Shah, 12 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Amara Shah, 12 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Gabriel Aguire, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ USA, 2021

Gabriel Aguire, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ USA, 2021

Wang Shangren, 9, China, Bruise, 2021

Wang Shangren, 9, China, Bruise, 2021

Emelin Saldana-Montes, 13 years old, United States-2021

Emelin Saldana-Montes, 13 years old, United States-2021

1st-place-Nattika Chaipiriyapitak, 13 years old, Thailand, 2021 thumbnail
2nd-place-Siddhi Jain, 9 years old, Jersey city, USA, 2021, Save us, there is no place for us thumbnail
3rd-place-Augustina Guerrero, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021 thumbnail
4th-place-Kanyanan Jirathanaprasert, Age 13, Thailand, 2021 thumbnail
Amara Shah, 12 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021 thumbnail
Gabriel Aguire, 17 years old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ USA, 2021 thumbnail
Wang Shangren, 9, China, Bruise, 2021 thumbnail
Emelin Saldana-Montes, 13 years old, United States-2021 thumbnail

1st Place: Nattika Jirathanaprasert, 13 years old, Thailand
2nd Place: Siddha Jain, 9 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
3rd Place: Augustina Guerrero, 17 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
4th Place: Kanyanan Jirathanaprasert, 13 years old, Thailand

Honorable Mention

Amara Shah, 12 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Gabriel Aguire, 17 years old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Wang Shangren, 9 years old, China, “Bruise”
Emelin Saldanap-Montes, 13 years old, USA

Winners – Best of Jersey City

1st-Place-Best-JC, Augustina Guerrero, 17 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

1st-Place-Best-JC, Augustina Guerrero, 17 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

2nd-Place-Best-JC, Siddhi Jain, 9 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

2nd-Place-Best-JC, Siddhi Jain, 9 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

3rd-Place-Best-JC-Aneurin Reyes, 12 yrs old, PS 11, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, Loosing our Monarchs, one piece at a time, 2021

3rd-Place-Best-JC-Aneurin Reyes, 12 yrs old, PS 11, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, Loosing our Monarchs, one piece at a time, 2021

Angely Ortiz, 13 yrs old, PS 14, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Angely Ortiz, 13 yrs old, PS 14, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Mia Woodard, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Mia Woodard, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Navia Lam, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Navia Lam, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021

Swarnabha Chakrabarty, 14 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021

Swarnabha Chakrabarty, 14 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021

Towaha Chowdury, 14 yrs old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, USA, 2021

Towaha Chowdury, 14 yrs old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, USA, 2021

1st-Place-Best-JC-Augustina-Guerrero-17-yrs-old-Jersey-City-NJ-USA-2021 thumbnail
2nd-Place-Best-JC-Siddhi-Jain-9-yrs-old-Jersey-City-NJ-USA-2021 thumbnail
3rd-Place-Best-JC-Aneurin Reyes, 12 yrs old, PS 11, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, Loosing our Monarchs, one piece at a time, 2021 thumbnail
Angely Ortiz-13 yrs old, PS 14, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021 thumbnail
Mia-Woodard-13-yrs-old-Jersey-City-NJ-USA-2021 thumbnail
Navia Lam, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2021 thumbnail
Swarnabha-Chakrabarty, 14 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, 2021 thumbnail
Towaha Chowdury, 14 yrs old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, USA, 2021 thumbnail

1st Place: Augustina Guerrero, 17 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
2nd Place: Siddhi Jain, 9 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
3rd Place: Aneurin Reyes, 12 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA, “Loosing our Monarchs, one piece at a time.”

Honorable Mention

Angely Ortiz, 13 yrs old, PS 14, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Mia Woodard, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Navia Lam, 13 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Swarnabha Chakrabarty, 14 yrs old, Jersey City, NJ, USA
Towaha Chowdury, 14 yrs old, Liberty HS, Jersey City, NJ, USA

Winners – Best of China

1st-Place-Best-China, Li Pellin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021

1st-Place-Best-China, Li Pellin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021

2nd-Place-Best, China-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink

2nd-Place-Best, China-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink

3rd-Place-Best-China, Shangguan Jiamu, 15 yrs old, China, 2021

3rd-Place-Best-China, Shangguan Jiamu, 15 yrs old, China, 2021

4th-Place-Best-China, Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

4th-Place-Best-China, Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale

Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador

Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador

Luo Ai, 9 yrs old, China, A future without frogs, 2021

Luo Ai, 9 yrs old, China, A future without frogs, 2021

Qu Jiaheng, 14 yrs old, China, Freedom and Faith, 2021

Qu Jiaheng, 14 yrs old, China, Freedom and Faith, 2021

Tong Xihan, 6 yrs old, China, 2021

Tong Xihan, 6 yrs old, China, 2021

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros

1st-Place-Best-China-Li Pellin, 12, China, Endangered marine animals, 2021 thumbnail
2nd-Place-Best-China-Huang Ruimeng, 11, China, Groupthink thumbnail
3rd-Place-Best-China-Shangguan Jiamu, 15 yrs old, China, 2021 thumbnail
4th-Place-Best-China-Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, sculpture-The end of the whale thumbnail
Li Yi, Grade 5, Age 10, China, Whale Cleaning Ambassador thumbnail
Luo Ai, 9 yrs old, China, A future without frogs, 2021 thumbnail
Qu Jiaheng, 14 yrs old, China, Freedom and Faith, 2021 thumbnail
Tong Xihan, 6 yrs old, China, 2021 thumbnail
Zhao Ziqi, 9, China, porcelain sculpture-Sad rhinoceros thumbnail

1st Place: Li Pellin, 12 yrs old, Endangered Marine Animals
2nd Place: Huang Ruimeng, 11 yrs old, GroupThink
3rd Place: Shangguan Jiamu, 15 yrs old, China
4th Place: Zhao Ziqi, 9 yrs old, China, The end of the whale, sculpture

Honorable Mention

Li Yi, 10 yrs old, China, Whale cleaning Ambassador
Luo Ai, 9 yrs old, A future without frogs
Qu Jiaheng, 14 yrs old, Freedom and Faith
Tong Xihan, 6 yrs old, China
Zhao Ziqi, 9 yrs old, sad rhinoceros, sculpture

01/20/14

The Caretta Research Project

Guest post by David Veljacic

The Caretta Research Project is an organization working with loggerhead sea turtles nesting on Wassaw Island National Wildlife Refuge, just off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. The project takes volunteers weekly throughout the nesting and hatching season and immerses them in the fantastic world of wildlife fieldwork, giving them a great opportunity to work hands on with the animals.  I was fortunate to have had the honor of working with this group for seven years, three as a paying volunteer for a week each season, and four as an assistant island leader, working the entire season.

David Veljacic measures turtle

Here is an entry from one of my work “days.”  *I’ve added explanations where necessary*

July 3/4

7:30 am – we just got in from our dawn run; Lefty  *named so as her left rear flipper was missing; this prevented her from digging her own nests* came up and started nesting at 5:45am. Mike  *assistant director at the time*, and I had Rachel (volunteer) help Lefty dig the nest this time. She was SO excited, that’s Rachel not Lefty, Lefty was oblivious. I love having the volunteers do stuff, it’s such a happy thing. It’s time for bed.

10:30 am –got up, marked and GPSed nests on the South end; Kris  *director of the project* went North and took the few crew members who were awake birding, they saw the oyster catchers!, AND, AND the wood storks are at the dyke!

Body Surfing! Awesome!

loggerhead sea turtle

Found freshly dead stranded loggerhead 15 paces north of marker 63. Did a necropsy; 56cm, male, probable shrimp net kill. I have it buried and screened at marker 63. The shrimp boats are everywhere right now, dumping their by-catch for it to wash up on the beach. It’s terrible (unless You’re a ghost crab, then You’d be rollin’ in it!), all these poor little fish and things just dead. Not to mention the pung of rotting animals, I know I said, “not to mention”, but I’m a rebel, at least here, on paper. haha.

two frogs together

Bruce  *caretaker* came by, there was a gator in the ditch pipe beside his house that needed moving. Toughest catch so far! It’s not big, but it wedged itself good’n’tight in the pipe, took Mike and me ‘round half and hour to get it out so we could catch *and relocate* it.  5’ 3”. Showed the crew, then took them to let it go in South Pond where it can’t cause any trouble. The toads are EVERYWHERE! With females dragging clumps of squabbling males clinging desperately to them. . . and the constant trill, it’s just so amazing. Found a bat caught and spun up by a golden silk spider (insert full body shivers here). Rolled some logs, caught a couple of ground skinks, giant eyed click beetles,  AND, AND a scarlet snake! Found a king snake predating a yellow belly slider nest.

David Veljacic with alligator

So . . . shortly after arriving back at the cabin we noticed that we were covered in seed ticks. Covered! I’m surprised that I have any blood left; but, after sitting and picking at ourselves, and each other monkey style I think we’re OK.

8:45 pm – time to get ready to cruse the beach for lovely ladies  *turtles.*

11:25 pm – Holy Carp! First two runs, swamped! Both ends! Back at cabin for quick break. COFFEE!!! SSK 416 dry ran  *a dry run is when a turtle crawls up the beach but chooses not to nest for various reasons* twice, both again, between markers 10 and 13  *markers are spaced 100 meters apart and are used for locating nests, among other things.* I got my favourite neophyte of the season, SSX 474 / SSX 475 again, that’s three for three for her and I this season, will we see each other again? Had 5 nests on my end and 4 on Kris’, we both had to leave people at turtles to carry on patrolling, thank goodness Bev, Joe, Tom and Mary-Ellen (volunteers) know what to do. Great week for the new team members too!

baby sea turtles

11:45 pm –  Oops, time to head back out.

6:35 am – Just in from a busy night, SSK 416 dry ran three more times before nesting 23 paces north of marker 11. My crew got 8 nests, we had to relocate one with 98 eggs, it was laid below the high tide line; Bev digs a mighty fine nest. Kris’ crew got 9 nests, 0 dry runs. 17 nests in ONE night! Kris got The Holy Roller *named due to a hole in the right rear margin of her carapace*

Now for a quick cup of coffee then I’m taking Mary-Ellen, Bev, and Joe to the Fish and Wildlife hut to do bird banding with Peter *the Fish and Wildlife Ranger in charge of the refuge.*

photographing sea turtles

12:20 pm – Back from banding. How about those horny (if You have found this diary and, for some reason, decide to read it to a small child, please feel free to substitute “amorous” for “horny”) dolphins off the Fish and Wildlife dock?!! I wish that I had taken my camera this morning, they were incredible! There were five of them leaping and cavorting about, with their bright pink bellies and their pointy red rockets waving about like flagpoles. They were at it for a long time before moving out of sight.

We banded 3 male and four female painted buntings!, a pair of blue birds, blue jays, cardinals, Carolina chickadees, white-eyed vireos, a black and white warbler, Carolina wrens (my faves., they’re so feisty!), AND, AND I got a humming bird on my last run! It was so tiny and delicate, what a beautiful wee thing. I brought it to Peter not knowing that he doesn’t band hummers, I wish I’d known, would have saved the poor little thing a walk. Oh yeah, I almost forgot (like I really could), we found a small Eastern diamond back on the trail!! Paul is coming next week to specifically band painted buntings and would like my help. Are You kidding me?! I’m in!

Um . . . why are there 6 squirrel tree frogs in my coffee mug?

Time for bed.

frog by david veljacic

07/27/10

Sea Turtle Hatchlings Released in Gulf of Mexico

At  Padre Island National Seashore, thousands of Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle hatchlings, raised in captivity, have been released today, but they face an uncertain future. These hatchlings will imprint on the sand at the Padre Seashore. If they survive, female adult sea turtles will return in several years to the same area to lay their own eggs.

The sea turtle hatchlings will face many natural hazards: predation by shore birds, crabs, fish, or other animals.  In the first few days in the ocean, the baby sea turtles swim for more than a day without stopping—a pretty amazing feat for a newly hatched reptile that could fit in the palm of your hand. After this swimming frenzy, they rest and feed in patches of seaweed.

But these hatchlings also face an unnatural hazard:  a habitat fouled with oil. Unlike most sea turtles that roam far, sometimes thousands of miles, Kemp’s Ridleys stay close to home, preferring the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. According to Juan Rodriguez, chief of interpretation and education at Padre Island,  as quoted in a USA Today article, adult females are most at risk because their favorite places to eat are in the coastal marshes of Louisiana, where the oil first hit land.

Not everyone thinks releasing the hatchlings is a good idea. Todd Steiner, director of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, which works to protect sea turtles, opposes the release because the turtles will float in currents that may lead into oil-polluted areas. “We believe they’re going to get into the oil and die,” Steiner said.

Yet others like David Godfrey, executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Gainesville, Florida, argue that keeping the turtles too long in captivity may disrupt their navigational and foraging skills. He is in favor of releasing the Kemp’s Ridleys as long as Texas is oil-free: “Everybody who is critical of that decision has a right to be critical because it’s not a black or white decision. If oil comes into Texas with a hurricane, nobody knows what would happen. Is it absolutely foolproof, 100%, signed, sealed, delivered? I don’t know. Nobody knows.”

For more information:

“Turtle hatchlings released into Gulf,” by Oren Dorell, USA Today

“Despite oil, baby turtles released into Gulf,” by Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press