Endangered Animal Project
Sea Otter Documentation
RESEARCH
Background Information:
Sea Otters are marine mammals that are native to the northern and eastern coasts of the North Pacific Ocean and Asia. Their fur keeps them dry and warm, while their webbed feet help them swim in water. Their nostrils and ears close when submerged in water, allowing them to breathe freely on land and stay underwater for an extended period of time. Most Sea Otters can remain underwater for at least 5 minutes. However, these advantages do not prevent the population of Sea Otters from declining.
Decreasing Population:
In the mid-1700s, around 150,000-300,000 Sea Otters were recorded throughout the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the numbers have plummeted to roughly 3,000 Sea Otters, the main threat being the risk of oil spills. According to the article “Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling: Risks to the Sea Otter” by Emily Watson, “Oil spills are a great concern for the Sea Otter; unlike other marine animals that may be able to eventually rid themselves of the oil, contact with the oil causes the Sea Otters fur to mat, preventing insulation, which can lead to hypothermia.”
MATERIALS
For my Media Studies class, I am to use recycled materials or anything I could find to design and prototype a model of a Sea Otter. I have decided to use a variety of recyclable and non-recyclable materials such as:
1. An empty roll of toilet paper
2. Paintbrushes
3. Paint
4. Air-dry clay
The empty roll of toilet paper is made up of cardboard/paperboard. The air-dry clay is made of paper, resin, and glue. All these materials, in their own ways, contribute to ecological and ecosystem destruction.
Toilet Paper Rolls and Their contribution to the Environment:
Empty rolls of toilet paper are made up of cardboard/paperboard. But did you know that such an item you throw away with no precautions is affecting the environment around you? According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), paper and paperboards make up a surprisingly 32.7% of our waste stream. Fortunately, cardboard is indeed recyclable and not harmful to our precious animals.
The Toxic Fumes of Paint and its Effect on Animals:
Based on the article “Are Paint Fumes Bad for Pets?” by Michael Lisby, “Fumes are not only bad for dogs and cats, but they can be lethal for birds, hamsters and other small animals. Snakes and other reptiles only have one lung, making them considerably more vulnerable to fumes, too. Remember that just because you can’t smell the paint fumes any more doesn’t mean that your pet can’t still get sick from inhaling them.” In other words, paint contains toxic chemicals which can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system of animals. Although the chances of you painting near a Sea Otter are low, the chances of them being affected by those fumes are stunningly high.
BRAINSTORMING
For my 3D model of a Sea Otter, I included a sketch of how I would like the finished product to look like. (see image above) I intend to use the empty roll of toilet paper as the base/support of the animal. To sculpt the feet, face, and tail of the Sea Otter, I will be using air-dry clay. After letting my prototype air dry, I will use various paints to bring my model to life. Shades of brown and black and white paint will serve for that purpose.
PROTOTYPING
Step 1: Sculpt the body and head of the Sea Otter.
Step 2: Paint the 3D model.
Step 3: Add the whiskers.
During this process, I debated whether I should paint the whiskers on or add another 3D element to my model. I decided to cut small strips of plastic from straws and attempted to glue them on the sides of the Sea Otter’s face. This was my final result. (see image above)
The Negative Effects of Plastic Straws on the Environment:
Over the past few years, plastic straws have sparked controversy over the effect it has on wildlife and the environment. According to the article, “Are Drinking Straws Dangerous?” by Emily DiFrisco and Jackie Nuñez, “It’s no surprise then that plastic straws are dangerous to wildlife. Due to their small size, straws are often mistaken for food by animals and because of their cylindrical shape, straws can cause suffocation and death to the animal. In at least one instance, the stomach of a penguin was perforated by a plastic straw. In another, in a video seen around the world, a sea turtle’s nostril bled as a plastic straw was removed.” As a resolution, many people have opted for paper straws since they are biodegradable, and overall a better option. For example, various fast food chains, like Wendy’s, have replaced their plastic straws with paper ones.
FINAL PRODUCT
In conclusion, when sculpting and painting my prototype, I came across several obstacles. For instance, the air-dry clay I was using was far too hard for me to work with. Furthermore, the empty roll of toilet paper I was using as a base was too insubstantial. To work across these factors, I had to locate a material that was sturdy enough to fit inside the empty roll. Afterwards, when sculpting on the base, I would wet the tips of my fingers every so often to maintain a moldable substance. This enabled me to sculpt the body and head of the Sea Otter. Then, when painting my model, I improvised with colors to match the fur as close as possible. In short, the goal of this project was to allow me, as a student, to find ways to incorporate the several factors that lead to the endangerment or extinction of a species in a 3D model. This model would then emphasize the importance of that animal in our world.
REFERENCE PAGE
Commission, Marine Mammal. Southern Sea Otter. 4 Dec. 2017, www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/southern-sea-otter/.
DiFrisco, Emily, and Jackie Nuñez. “Are Drinking Straws Dangerous?” Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 28 Apr. 2017, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2017/4/28/are-drinking-straws-dangerous.
Draper, James. “The Environmental Benefits of Using Green Cardboard Packaging:” Medium, Medium, 2 Apr. 2019, medium.com/@packingsolutionuk_86557/the-environmental-benefits-of-using-green-cardboard-packaging-40fcb36033f.
Geographic, National. “Sea Otter.” National Geographic, 4 Apr. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/sea-otter/.
Green, Intercon. “Biopolymers: Emerging Plastics.” Intercon, 25 July 2015, intercongreen.com/2009/06/08/biopolymers-emerging-plastics/.
Lisby, Michael. “Are Paint Fumes Bad for Pets?” Paternal Pet Care, LLC, 4 Feb. 2019, www.paternalpetcare.com/are-paint-fumes-bad-for-pets/.
Watson, Emily. “Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling: Risks to the Sea Otter.” FracTracker Alliance, FracTracker Alliance Https://Www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/Wp-Content/Uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg, 21 July 2020, www.fractracker.org/2015/06/sea-otter/.
Wildlife, Defenders Of. “Sea Otter.” Defenders of Wildlife, 2020, defenders.org/wildlife/sea-otter.