Precious Moments, oil on canvas by Paula Wiegmink. All Rights Reserved. The first Sumatran orangutan I ever saw was in the Perth Zoo, Western Australia. In 2013 this orangutan named Puan celebrated her 61st birthday. She was believed to be one of the oldest Sumatran Orangutans in the world.

Mothers are killed and their babies are snatched and sold on the black market as cute pets. It is this fact that compelled me to do this painting. Capturing the tenderness of mother and child sharing a bond that is like no other.

Having the privilege of being born and growing up in Africa I soon developed a deep connection to my surroundings. It seemed natural that in later life as my art developed, wildlife would play a significant role.

I am currently involved with the "Rages One Fight Unite SAY NO" ongoing global awareness poster campaign for endangered species, launched in the UK, 2015. The posters using images of my paintings, "Tears of the rhino" and & "Tears are not enough" are being signed by high profile people like Sir David Attenborough, Dr Jane Goodall, Noam Chomsky, Jean Claude Van Damme and Virginia Mckenna among many others.

I work in a variety of mediums and enjoy experimenting. For the past 10 years my passion for wildlife has driven me to become a voice for the voiceless using my art as a conduit.

Hoping to create awareness by drawing attention to the vulnerability of endangered species and the natural world, I am happiest when surrounded by nature.

To see more of her beautiful work go to http://paulawiegmink.com.au/

To enter the ENDANGERED Art & Photography Contest go to http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php…

All entry donations go directly to the Center for Great Apes.