Some of the world’s best sculptors from China are helping efforts in Australia to save endangered species from extinction. They are creating 10 colorful lanterns for the Vivid Lighting Festival at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, where each lantern represents a species near extinction, including the Sumatran tiger. 

Inside an old warehouse in Sydney, dozens of hands carry out seemingly basic tasks, painting, cutting, stringing lights. But there is nothing ordinary about these hands.

There are 10 colourful lanterns for the Vivid Lighting Festival at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

“There is no-one else in the world who can do what they do,” said Lucy Keeler, creative director of Amole Project.

“I feel so excited to be here to do the work,”' said Chang Ji, artist.

Chang Ji, 36, is leading a team of about 30 artists from Sichuan. He is considered one of the world’s best sculptors.

“The speed which they produce, and the quality of the work they produce, it's talent and it's skill that's passed along, and you can only learn it in practice,” Keeler said.

They have been hired to help create 10 colorful lanterns for Sydney’s Vivid Lighting Festival. Each lantern represents an endangered species including the sun bear, the bilby, the Sumatran rhino, and the Sumatran tiger.

Each lantern represents a species near extinction, including the Sumatran tiger.

“Many or all of them are expected to be extinct within the next 10 years, so the commitment is to raise awareness, to save these species over a 10-year plan, and they may succeed with some, they may not succeed with others,” Keeler said.

To appreciate just how big these massive works of art are, you would need a pretty big ladder. The lanterns will be displayed at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

“This is the most important project we’ve ever worked on,” Keeler said.

A project designed to shine a light on these magnificent creatures that are so close to disappearing to help bring them back to life in an extraordinary way.