Ralph Steadman's critters on the edge of extinction – in pictures

Animals across the globe are struggling to survive the perils of the Anthropocene era. Writer and environmental campaigner Ceri Levy introduces the much-loved artist’s portraits of these embattled beasts

and Ceri Levy

Main image: Detail from Snow Leopard – Ole Blue Eyes by Ralph Steadman Illustration: © Ralph Steadman

  • First discovered in 1902, the mountain gorilla must wish it had never been found. Its future is now uncertain thanks to habitat loss, poaching and civil war. This peace-loving critter would prefer to be out of the firing line.
    Mountain Gorilla by Ralph Steadman

  • Whether it is Tarzan’s pal Cheetah, or the tea-brewing stars of TV ads, chimpanzees are a perennial feature of popular culture. We share 98% of our genes with them, but their numbers are tumbling and will continue to do so unless we care for our little cousins a lot more.
    Chimpanzee by Ralph Steadman

  • The Przewalski’s horse is the last truly wild species of horse left. Its downfall began when a German merchant, Carl Hagenbeck, captured most of the wild population and sold them to zoos and the circuses of PT Barnum. By 1945, only 31 individuals remained but now there are more than 1,500, all descended from those few survivors.
    Przewalski’s Horse by Ralph Steadman

  • The hippo is classed as ‘vulnerable’ – one rung below ‘endangered’ on the ‘red list’ of animals at risk. But we can’t be complacent – the big fella still needs protection from poachers.
    Hippopotamus by Ralph Steadman

  • I remember how popular tortoiseshell accessories once were. But how many of us realised that they were made from the carapace of the hawksbill turtle? The trade was outlawed in 1973 but this is still the primary threat to the species.
    Hawksbill Turtle by Ralph Steadman

  • Polar bears spend winter on polar ice, eating and building up fat reserves to survive summer on the mainland, where there is far less food. Global warming means Arctic ice now melts earlier in the year – and refreezes later. Consequently, it is thought that bears remain one day longer ashore each year. The maths is easy, but the news is hard.
    Polar Bear by Ralph Steadman

  • The demand for bluefin tuna in Japan is huge, with 80% of the caught fish consumed as sushi and sashimi. The first Tokyo fish auction of 2017 saw a 212kg bluefin sell for £517,000. Illegal fishing is on the rise – fish are becoming bigger business than drugs.
    Bluefin Tuna by Ralph Steadman

  • Who will ever forget Cecil the lion? Cecil was shot without sedation by a trophy-hunting dentist with his bow and arrow. For a moment the world was outraged but soon we forgot and moved on to something else.
    Lion by Ralph Steadman

  • Hunting, habitat loss and conflict with local people have led to a declining population of the iconic snow leopard. Stricter laws and their enforcement are essential to stop the proliferation of poaching across its range, especially as there is a growing demand in China for its fur, bones and body parts.
    Snow Leopard by Ralph Steadman

  • The plight of the bumblebee is precarious to say the least. Neonicotinoid pesticides damage bee colonies and halt bees learning how to collect pollen, which is a huge no-no. These have been banned within the EU but not yet by the USA.
    Garden Bumblebee by Ralph Steadman

  • A success story surrounds this enduring symbol of endangerment. On 4 September 2016 the Panda’s status was downgraded from endangered to vulnerable. It is now a beacon of hope for all creatures.
    Giant Panda by Ralph Steadman

  • Critical Critters by Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levy is published by Bloomsbury, price £35. Save 25% at the Guardian bookshop. Free postage and packing for online orders, with a minimum postage and packing charge of £1.99 for phone orders on 0330 333 6846.
    Critical Critters by Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levy
Topics