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Pat LatasAs I write this, I am looking out across the Foveaux Straights, on the far south of the Te Waipaunamu (South Island) of New Zealand, whilst sitting in the kakapo rearing facility on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island. It is cold and windy, the sea choppy with whitecaps. Freezing on the outside but warm in the heart.
I am privileged to represent Artists for Conservation, on the 14th Flag Expedition, documenting the heroic efforts of the Kakapo team. There are two large chicks, grunting like piglets and begging for food as I write. There are also three more in nests under the care of their mothers, and one chick from another island sanctuary is in the Auckland Zoo for treatment and hand feeding. The addition of six chicks to the population is a 5% increase. It is an honor to be allowed to observe the operation of the Kakapo Team, and a heart-piercing experience to watch the tiny chicks grow from cotton balls to fuzzy, squishy bowling balls in a matter of days. And thanks to the Artists for Conservation, I am here to witness and record this huge effort.
In 2011, I was selected to be a volunteer as a nest minder with the New Zealand Department of Conservation Kakapo Recovery Team. Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and the next many months were spent in treatment. The wonderful memories of the kakapo and the many fortunate opportunities I have had to participate in conservation with my art around the world has kept me going and hopeful. I vowed, that if I survived, I would return to the kakapo what they had given to me: hope for the future.
Illustration of the natural world has been my passion since I can remember. 'Drawing pictures' has been an integral part of my life, and my excuse for many adventures. I have had the privilege to travel to many parts of the world and illustrate members of diverse environments. Nature never ceases to be a source of wonder and inspiration. My love for birds is a primary inspiration, as a "bird doctor" veterinarian, and as an artist. Birds are my first love, but I will try to illustrate almost anything, from molecules to volcanos. Other personal favorites include crabs, especially the terrestrial species; insects, slugs and snails, sea horses, the weird, tiny and strange.
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Kakapo Chick
(2014)
kakapo chick
6 x 8
Digital/iPad/Procreate
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Riflemen family
(2013)
New Zealand's tiny Riflemen!
14 x 11
Colored pencil
Original Available Ltd. Edition Available Pledge Amt: 10% to BirdLife International
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All rights reserved. All images and text © Copyright 2025 Pat Latas - Member of the Artists for Conservation Foundation (Formerly
the Worldwide Nature Artists Group) www.natureartists.com.
This site represents the original artwork (nature art and wildlife art) of nature
artist and wildlife artist of Pat Latas and is protected by international copyright laws. Use
of nature art, wildlife art or any other images or text from this site, requires
permission in writing from Pat Latas ().
This site is part of the Artists for Conservation (AFC) Web site. (Wildlife
Art - Nature Art - Conservation) Artists for Conservation is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to
nature art, wildlife art and conservation. On this site you will find world-class
nature art and wildlife art by today's leading nature artists & wildlife artists.
The AFC site is the Web's premier location for nature art, wildlife
artists
All content appearing in pages featuring Pat Latas is the sole responsibility of Pat Latas. The opinions expressed on these artists' pages are those of Pat Latas and do not necessarily reflect those of the Artists for Conservation
Foundationi (AFC).
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