The Hour

Yesterday The Hour caught up with the children of Balfron, who have been hard at work designing a Hornbill bird sculpture to take part in the Jungle City event this August and September. Among the artists joining them in the project is Edinburgh student Scott McCracken, who has been hard at work designing his “Cyberian” Tiger.

He said: “The Jungle City project is basically to try and raise awareness for elephants and other animals which share the same habitat as the elephants. It’s taking place in Edinburgh to try and raise £1million to protect these animals’ habitats.

“All these animals are facing extinction so if projects like this don’t take place, in 50 or 60 years time these animals won’t exist as we know them.”

The “Cyberian” tiger is one such animal, the alternative spelling being a nod to the idea that it is computer generated or created by a machine. Scott explained: “If the animals do die out and if things don’t change then that’s how future generations will come in to contact with animals such as this.”

Scott has been studying at Edinburgh College of Art and usually paints on a flat surface, but pitched his idea for his tiger after encouragement from his friends.

He added: “This is a good way to show how the arts can be put into a worthwhile cause.”

Throughout September the streets of Edinburgh will be filled with birds perched on ledges, orangutans hanging from lampposts and brightly coloured elephants in public spaces.

For more information on Jungle City check out the event's website. For more on Scott visit his pages.

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