A pangopup is curled up, shying away from the viewer, while its mother stands as a guardian and protector. I wanted their unique scales to form an endless spiral that fades into the background, symbolizing their vulnerable existence. The spiral draws attention to the fragility of these creatures, highlighting their need for protection and the delicate balance of their survival, as the two pangolins seem to merge into one.

All pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, and all are threatened with extinction as assessed by the IUCN, with three classified as Critically Endangered. Over the past decade, over a million pangolins have been taken from the wild to feed consumer demand for meat, scales and other body parts. Their meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales, which, like our own fingernails, are made of keratin, are used in traditional medicines as they are believed to treat a range of ailments. WWF is working to protect wildlife from poaching and loss of habitat and to support law enforcement efforts to counter traffickers.