Fijian Wildlife – Life sized models made from 100% recycled materials. Anne O’Brien of Scotland arrived in Fiji in August 2011.
As she prepares to return to her homeland, she leaves with one parting gift for her adopted home: life -sized models of Fiji’s endangered species – made from 100% recycled materials including masi, blankets and old clothes.
This is a unique combination: models of Fijian animals made out of 100% recycled Fijian materials. These models are a special gift and we are very grateful to Anne for volunteering to do this for us. She has done her research, and we are very impressed with what she has created.
In collaboration with Anne O’Brien, NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is launching an exhibition of the 20 life-sized models at the Fiji Museum on June 1st.
The models of birds, bats, sharks, turtles and insects have been sponsored by various businesses in Fiji at $200.00 each. Paintings of Fiji’s wildlife will also be auctioned at the launch.
As a token of our appreciation to our sponsors, we will be announcing their names at the launch, and their logos and names will remain with the models throughout the duration of the three months display at the Fiji Museum.
We are very grateful to those who have responded positively to this eco-friendly advertising venture, and hope that we will receive more positive replies in the next few days.
Anne had offered to create the models for NatureFiji-MareqetiViti in early 2012 when she heard that they were receiving requests from schools and the general public for demonstrations with children but were unable to do so because there were no readily available models of Fijian species in Fiji.
It is very difficult to find authentic Fijian toys and animal models in Fiji’s shops – even in tourist shops. Most of the animal models we find are foreign animals that have the words Bula Fiji on them.
This is a sad reality considering the fact that we get many tourists who are interested in Fiji’s wildlife.
All proceeds from the exhibition launch will be used to fund NatureFiji-MareqetiViti’s conservation action projects.
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti was established in 2007. Our main objective from the very start has always been to engage Fiji’s children in active conservation action.
These models and the launch is our stepping stone towards that dream. It has taken five years to get here, but we are here to stay, and making Fiji’s children aware of their unique wildlife and natural heritage continues to be the driving force behind our work.