THE STORY BEHIND THE ARTWORK

Pangolins are among Africa's most extraordinary creatures, ancient, elusive and incredibly vulnerable.

The pangolin is one of the world's most threatened mammals.

Its unique armour, gentle nature and secretive behaviour have made it one of Africa's most fascinating creatures.

But these same animals face enormous threats. Pangolins are heavily affected by illegal wildlife trafficking and habitat loss.

For those involved in their rescue and rehabilitation, every individual animal matters. Every successful rescue matters. Every rehabilitation matters. And every release back into the wild is a reason to hope. This is why their story needs to be told.

When a pangolin is rescued, its journey does not end there. Rescue is only the beginning.

There is rehabilitation. There is care. There is patience. There are setbacks and small victories. And then, hopefully, comes the moment everyone has been working towards, the opportunity to return the animal to the wild.

It is this journey that inspired Footprints to Freedom.

The footprints captured within the artwork represent more than the movement of an animal. They represent every step taken towards freedom. From the first uncertain steps after rescue, through rehabilitation and recovery, to the final journey back into its natural world.

The artwork is a celebration of that journey. A reminder that behind every conservation success story is a living creature, and a group of people who cared enough to give it another chance.

Footprints to Freedom was created with mud and a walk over a canvas by Kuru, as a visual interpretation of this extraordinary story.

The artwork seeks to capture something of its journey.

The process of creating the work transformed the story of rescue and rehabilitation into a physical expression of movement, life and freedom. The footprints became central to the composition, a simple but powerful reminder that conservation is ultimately about allowing wild animals to continue making their own footprints in the wild.