Pan troglodytes, Pongo pygmaeus, and Gorilla gorilla

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Landscape, Natural World, Public Art

Pan troglodytes, Pongo pygmaeus and Gorilla gorilla

Chimpanzees at the beach Rescue Centre & Cafe, Ramsgate Main Sands. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Orangutan, George Street, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Chimpanzees on George Street, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Silverback Gorilla on George Street, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Tipping’s Tiny Zoo, Jacob’s Ladder, Ramsgate.

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Landscape, Natural World

Red Deer on Jacob’s Ladder, Military Road, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019

Red Deer on Jacob’s Ladder, Military Road, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

‘Jacob’s Ladder is a Grade II Listed flight of stone steps. Built in 1826 by John Shaw. Dog-leg stairs with three flights of steps faced with ashlar and built between flanking towers with rounded fronts of ashlar, each flight of steps with wide central pilaster; centre landings. Iron balustrade. The present stair replaces an earlier wooden flight of c.1750, 100 yards to the east’. Historic England.

Red Deer, Cervus elaphus with local flora.

Red Deer on Jacob’s Ladder, Military Road, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Small Antelope on Jacob’s Ladder, Military Road, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Red Deer with small Antelope on Jacob’s Ladder, Military Road, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Stumped: Elephants on Dumpton Park Drive – Animal Thanet 2019

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Natural World, Public Art

Stumped: Elephant herd marooned on Dumpton Park Drive

These images are part of the ongoing Animal Thanet project and installation / performance, which considers & reflects wider concerns I have for the natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, trophy hunting, 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 real-time catastrophe for the world around us.

A recently removed tree provides a stump as a refuge and island platform for these Elephants marooned above the pavement on Dumpton Park Drive. Habitat loss is a major issue in Elephant conservation. Human population growth means encroachment on wildlife. Loss of trees and forests leaves space for wildlife diminished and in smaller and smaller pockets or ‘island’ reserves. EleAid

Elephant herd marooned on a tree stump. Dumpton Park Drive, Ramsgate. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Crocodiles on Elms Avenue – Animal Thanet 2019

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Natural World, Public Realm

A haul-out of Nile Crocodiles – Crocodylus niloticus on Elms Avenue, Ramsgate.

These images are part of the ongoing Animal Thanet project and installation / performance, which considers & reflects wider concerns I have for the natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, trophy hunting, 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 real-time catastrophe for the world around us.

Crocodiles haul out on Elms Avenue trailer. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: Crocodiles haul out by a rainwater pool caught in the tarpaulin of a trailer parked on Elms Avenue.

Crocodiles haul out on Elms Avenue trailer. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Herne Bay to Birchington – Animal Thanet 2019

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Natural World

A walk from Herne Bay to Birchington at Low Tide with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant – February 2019

These images are part of the ongoing Animal Thanet project and installation / performance, which considers & reflects wider concerns I have for the natural world, particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals, conservation, loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, poaching, trophy hunting, 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 real-time catastrophe for the world around us.

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: Arabian Oryx – Oryx leucoryx at Herne Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: African Elephant – L. africana at Herne Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above: Views towards Reculver.

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above & Below: Oryx at Minnis Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Oryx and an Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Above & Below: Small tidal sea bathing pool at Minnis Bay

Herne Bay to Birchington – A walk with two Arabian Oryx and an African Elephant at low tide. Animal Thanet 2019. Image: Christopher Tipping

Herded – Animal Thanet 2018

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Natural World

My Garden … May 2018

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.

Herded – Animal Thanet 2018. Image: Christopher Tipping

Animal Thanet – Pegwell Safari

Animal Thanet, Blog, Education, Landscape, Natural World

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

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

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

Animal Thanet – Elephant Walk

Animal Thanet, Blog, Natural World

‘Animal Thanet’ exists as a series of images which examine our relationship with the natural world and environment through the use of plastic animals placed in a variety of habitats & scenarios in and around Ramsgate & the Isle of Thanet in Kent.

One of my first recollections as a child was of having a farm with plastic animals. I loved it. I collected these animals throughout my childhood and developed a strong affinity with the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. When I got married and had a family and child of my own, I started collecting again – particularly after we moved to Ramsgate, Kent – always under the pretence that they were for my daughter Nell ! Living by the coast was like revisiting childhood.

My wider concerns for the natural world, is particularly focussed on the lives of its wild animals. Loss of habitat, diminishing numbers, extinction and callous exploitation hold a mirror to our humanity. We may soon only have plastic versions of our wild neighbours to play with.

This set of images was made on Ramsgate Main Sands and the coastal walk at low tide between Ramsgate and Broadstairs.