A Zoologist's Amazing Origami Animals

For wildlife zoologist Bernie Peyton, animal life inspires not only scientific curiosity but artistic creativity. For decades, he has folded paper to raise awareness about wildlife conservation:

"I write a lot of boring [academic] articles nobody reads, but conservation also has to appeal to the emotional side," Peyton told Wired. "That's why I do art."

He chose origami because its fragility complements "the ephemeral nature of our world," he said.  Plus, he uses his experience as a field biologist to inform how he molds paper into cacti, bears, kangaroo rats, snakes and polar bears, all of which he's spent considerable time with.

"I don't fold anything I don't have a personal experience with," he said.

Artist's Gallery and Article -via NotCot