Just by going to the North Carolina Zoo you can see all kinds of wondrous animals. Of the many birds in the aviary at the zoo my favorite is the Scarlet Ibis. “Rainforest Ruby” was painted to honor their unparalleled beauty and elegance. The Scarlet Ibis, like many animals native to South America, are severely endangered. They used to be the most abundant bird in 1890, but ever since deforestation and fishing came to Brazil their numbers have quickly declined. Ibis’s are water birds, living and nesting close to shallow water and mangroves. They feed off crabs and other crustaceans that have a special protein giving them their bright red coloration. They are an amazing bird, and because of that they are valued as pets in Amazonia and many are captured to rid of insects. The Ibis’s worst threat comes from fishermen. Aqua Agriculture has become a fast growing and very destructive enterprise throughout South America. This is the practice of cutting down a large portion of the mangroves, which destroys the birds homes and nests, and then fishing all of the fish out of that area as quickly as possible, thereby taking all of their food as well. This thoughtless destruction will not only cause the demise of the Scarlet Ibis, but also the many other water birds and aquatic creatures that reside near Brazilian waters. There are so many horrible stories about disappearing species, but if we started the problem we can fix it. “Rainforest Ruby” 16x20 inch canvas. Acrylic. © Cara Bevan