Popular graffiti artist Sonny will create an image of the world’s rarest wild cat in Vladivostok. On 1-10 August 2017, the street artist will paint a wall in the city as part of the To the Bones international art project.

The campaign was organised in cooperation with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to raise awareness of rare species’ extinction and poaching. The Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation and the Far Eastern Federal University are the campaign’s partners in Vladivostok.

“Vladivostok maintains extensive external relations and hosts international conferences every year, including the Eastern Economic Forum. It is important that artwork dedicated to such a beautiful and, at the same time, rare animal will captivate not only Vladivostok residents but also numerous visitors to the capital of the Primorye Territory,” said Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov, chair of the Far Eastern Leopards Supervisory Board.

“Sonny wants to tell the public about the animals that cannot be saved without people’s immediate intervention. I am particularly happy that we are involved in this project together because it draws the attention of primarily young people who are in charge of the world’s wellbeing today and in the future,” said Maria Vorontsova, IFAW Regional Director, Russia & CIS.

“I am certain the artwork by the talented Sonny will make an honourable contribution to promoting conservation of the Far Eastern leopard, the world’s rarest big cat,” said Yelena Gangalo, General Director of the Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation.

Sonny’s project started last June. Images of IFAW-protected animals have already appeared in major cities across the world: a lion and a tiger near Wall Street in New York and a bear in Toronto. In addition to the Far Eastern leopard graffiti, Sonny has plans to paint a gorilla in London and an elephant in New Delhi. The campaign will finish next summer with an exhibition in London.

To the Bones in Vladivostok coincides with the V-Rox Festival (Vladivostok Rocks) organised by Mumiy Troll band and its founder, Ilya Lagutenko. The musician is a member of the IFAW advisory council in Russia and is largely involved in Amur tiger and Far Eastern leopard conservation.