S4: Toucan Beauty

Series: Toucan Family Portraits The Toucans (Ramphastidae) are astonishing birds: With their oversize bill they can pick small fruit with the delicacy of an eye surgeon. Their colorful appearance is breathtaking, in every detail if you look closer. Such beauty also has a strong downside: Many people find Toucans very lovable, hence they are strong subject to pet trade still today. Many locals though object to Toucans, as they are also predators to young birds, eggs and fruit. The Toucan family consists of more than 40 species where approx. 20% are globally threatened or near-threatened. Illegal trading, hunting and habitat loss through deforestation, especially in the Amazon basin, contributes to the threat. I´d like to show the beauty of these birds through my family portrait series – in the hope that generations after me will still be able to see these astonishing birds in all their variety in the wild.