The Sixth Extinction

Well done to Kavitha Varatharajan of Year 10 whose stunning watercolour highlighting the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal has been named a semi-finalist in the international student art competition: 2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge.

Kavitha’s artwork was one of 1200 entries received from around the world. The theme this year is ‘The Sixth Extinction’ and students were asked to highlight the plight of an endangered species through art. Kavitha’s watercolour creation features the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.

‘Hawaiian Monk Seals are a greatly respected animal in Hawaiian culture due to their title as “guardians over human souls after death” and also their role as guardians of the Hawaiian ecosystem’s balance’, Kavitha explained.

‘They are apex predators and thus keep many other sea creature populations under control. The squid and the tuna fish resting on and next to the seal show how reliant the ecosystem is on its guardian. The seal blends into the sand and background so that the fish and squid can stand out. Like how the seal protects the ecosystem from devastation and disarray. The seal brings life and peace to its ecosystem, which, though we can’t see it, is being slowly destroyed by the extinction of the Hawaiian Monk Seal. We need the Hawaiian ecosystem’s guardian to continue to protect its fragile balance and ensure the survival of many other species.’

Kavitha Varatharajan

Matthew Mountford
Dean of Gifted Education