4-yr-old HK artist wins Wildlife Day contest

Young people from across the world, including a boy from Hong Kong, were recognized for their artistic talent at the annual World Wildlife Day 2024 International Youth Art Contest on March 5.

This year marked the sixth edition of the contest hosted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, a conservation organization, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, and the United Nations Development Programme.

With his piece depicting a den of snakes, 4-year-old Isaac Alvin Lam from Hong Kong won first prize in the traditional art category, while 18-year-old Noh Sangeun from Singapore took top honors in the digital art category for his piece featuring cranes.

Both winners were recognized as part of the official United Nations' World Wildlife Day celebrations, which were held on March 3.

Mao Yanjun, a 15-year-old teenager from the Chinese mainland, was also selected Best in Age in the Age 15-18 category in this year's contest. Mao was also the champion at the fourth World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest in 2022 for his piece Return Home.

The winners were selected from a record 3,000-plus entrants from 141 countries and regions.

Under this year's theme "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation", entries featured species that benefit from technology such as camera traps and tracking devices.

"This was a record-breaking year for global submissions, and the talent displayed in the art pieces is extraordinary," said Danielle Kessler, the United States director with the IFAW, who congratulated all participants.

"The world's biodiversity is sadly disappearing at alarming rates, and the passionate submissions gathered from around the world reinforce a dedication to wildlife conservation from future generations, which is exactly what the world needs. It is an honor to continue hosting this global contest that provides them with a platform for such expression."

CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said, "It is uplifting to see so many young people, from so many countries, recognize the value in partnerships and technology to conserve and protect imperiled species."