Handle With Care, a project of location-specific murals that run along the walls of Franklin Park Zoo’s Tropical Forest Pavilion, represents a thematic expansion of the common thread in SNIK’s pieces – the fragile relationship between humanity & the natural world, and an ecosystem reliant on global education & understanding.

In this project SNIK bring to life the flora and fauna housed within the building it is painted on. Throughout the two-week installation, SNIK use hand-cut multi layered stencils and spray paint to produce the murals, which include a western lowland gorilla, clouded leopard, a black and white ruffed lemur, and a Panamanian golden frog – all of which are species with compelling conservation stories.

“Conservation and education are the cornerstones of our mission, and this new mural is another way to connect our visitors to the incredible biodiversity of our planet,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO. “By providing opportunities for people to more deeply understand the natural world and all of its inhabitants, we aim to build empathy, empower people to take an active role in preserving healthy ecosystems, and create a better world for people, animals and wild places – now, and in the future.”

Every day, ZNE’s staff are working to save species from extinction while the Zoos are also serving as centres of education, conservation, and important research that is assisting scientists in the field. Utilising cutting edge science, as well as partnerships with BroadInstitute of MIT and Harvard, ZNE’s impactful conservation field work is far-reaching, both locally and globally. From rare and threatened species in eastern Massachusetts to snow leopards in Mongolia, Cross-river gorillas in Nigeria, amphibians in Panama and One Health focused work in Madagascar, ZNE is actively working to save animals from extinction.

SNIK’s collaboration with Franklin Park Zoo seeks to draw attention to the essential conservation work taking place on local and global levels, to the benefit of communities, animals and environments worldwide. Particular care is placed on collaboratively working with local communities to preserve and protect biodiversity, restore healthy habitats and to positively impact overall health - for people, animals and habitats.

“Our modern-day, single-use society rarely allows time for reflection on our role within the natural world. Looking from a macro level to see the bigger picture is hugely important to the animals we share a planet with, and human health cannot be separated from that of the ecosystems on which we depend,” said SNIK, adding, “Art – public art particularly, acts as a means of sharing a message, and we have a responsibility to use our platform to amplify ZNE’s efforts. Art should ultimately be a vehicle for change, and initiatives like this will hopefully create a blueprint for others going forward.”

For more information visit Zoo New England website.