Animal Thanet – Pegwell Safari

In 2011, I took a series of Animal Thanet images entitled Pegwell Safari – down on the abandoned concrete apron of the former Pegwell Bay Hoverport at Pegwell Bay, Thanet. These images formed part of a postal art project.

Some of the images show the cooling towers & chimney of the former Richborough Power Station, which were demolished by explosives at 09.07am on 11th March 2012.

These images consider & reflect wider concerns for the  natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, extinction and callous exploitation, which holds a mirror to our humanity. We may soon only have plastic versions of our wild neighbours to play with. The last decade has witnessed the slow & horrible realisation that our negative impact on the planet and particularly our plastic pollution of almost every environment, is a catastrophe for the world around us. 

Hippopotamus amphibious Pegwell Bay, Thanet with Richborough Cooling Towers in the background. Image: Christopher Tipping
Hippo Postcard Project – Hippopotamus amphibious Pegwell Bay, Thanet with Richborough Cooling Towers in the background. Image: Christopher Tipping
Plains Zebra, Equus zebra Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Plains Zebra, Equus zebra Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Buffalo, Syncerus caffer, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Buffalo, Syncerus caffer, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Nile Crocodile. Crocodylus niloticus, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Plains Zebra, Equus zebra Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping
Sperm Whale, Physter macrocephalus, Pegwell Bay, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping

In March 2011 a Sperm Whale beached and died at Pegwell Bay. I remember running along the beach at low tide all the way from Ramsgate to see it. A whale necropsy was carried out the following day, which was astonishing to see.

Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping
Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping
Necropsy of Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping
Necropsy of Sperm Whale beached at Pegwell Bay March 2011 Image: Christopher Tipping

Other images were taken earlier in April 2008, of plastic animals from my collection at various sites in Ramsgate and along Ramsgate Main Sands and the Thanet Coast –

Red Deer Stag, Cervus elaphus, Ramsgate Gate Post. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008
Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

Trans Europa Cross Channel Ferries were still running out from Ramsgate to Ostend at this time –

Okapi: Okapia johnstoni. Ramsgate Sands Eastern Undercliffe, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008
Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, Ramsgate Main Sands, Thanet. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008
Crocodiles & Hippopotamus sharing a rockpool. Eastern Undercliffe, Ramsgate. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008
Beach Elephants: Elephas maximus indicus & Loxodonta africana, Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008
Giraffe: Giraffa camelopardalis on Ramsgate Main Sands. Image: Christopher Tipping 2008

 

 

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