100 Signed Manumea Prints

29 June 2020 -

Gonzovationists Join Samoa’s Campaign to Save the Manumea

Ralph Steadman, and writer-filmmaker Ceri Levy, are injecting their special brand of Gonzovation into the campaign to Save the Manumea – the national bird of Samoa. 

Ceri Levy  and Ralph Steadman originally teamed up in 2012 to write “The Gonzovation Trilogy”, a series of books about the threats facing many species around the world.

“We originally overlooked the Manumea because, at that time, it was only considered endangered. What we find most saddening is that since then, the Manumea has changed status to one of being critically endangered,” he says.

The Manumea is famously related to the iconic Dodo which became extinct in 1662 after being hunted by sailors.  The last confirmed sighting of a Manumea or “Little Dodo” was in the Uafato forest on 4 August 2017. But surveys undertaken 2012-2013 suggest there may now be fewer than 50 individuals for each of the two main islands of Samoa, Savai’i and Upolu.

Gonzovation is defined as “exhibiting compassion for the natural world” and Ralph Steadman has actively demonstrated his compassion for the people and natural heritage of Samoa by creating a new painting of the “Little Dodo” to help inspire local and international efforts to save this globally significant species.  The Gonzovation team are selling 100 prints of the Little Dodo with all proceeds going towards the campaign to Save the Manumea.

Levy says the whole point of Gonzovation is to help people to find ways to directly engage with, “real-time missions” to save species, rather than simply liking something on a social media post. He says the Covid pandemic is forcing many countries to question what they value as a society.

“Nature is vital to mental health and it brings great joy to many people, but I fear that many of those animals that desperately need help to survive are not getting it during this global Covid pandemic,” he says

“Those that champion the fight against extinction need as much support as the threatened animals or birds we are trying to save. It’s a constant battle to keep interest high and to continually promote awareness as well as money to save a species. That work needs outside appreciation and support and they also need to know they are not alone. That’s why Ralph and I decided to get involved”, he says.

On 12 June the new 10-year Manumea Recovery Plan (2020-2029) was launched by the Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E). This plan spells out the key actions that are needed to Save the Manumea, but it will require significant funding and a concerted effort by all Samoan’s to reduce the main impacts threatening the Manumea with extinction.

The Samoan comedian, Tofiga Fepulea’i, has also thrown his support behind the campaign. by mixing music and humour with a serious message aimed at encouraging communities to ban the hunting and eating of another native pigeon, the Lupe, because of the threat this hunting also poses to the Manumea. Some villages like Uafato and Falease’ela have already banned the hunting of Lupe to try and protect the Manumea from extinction. 

The Samoa Conservation Society and the Government of Samoa have now launched a new website (www.savethemanumea.com) to help coordinate the growing international effort by encouraging visitors to buy merchandise, donate or learn how to directly support community-based efforts to Save the Manumea.

Leilani Duffy, the President of the Samoa Conservation Society, says that all the partners behind the campaign are hugely grateful for the support provided by key champions such as Ralph Steadman, Ceri Levy, Tofiga Fepulea’I and the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.

“In addition to these key champions there are many others working behind the scenes to try and ensure the survival of the Manumea. We thank their tireless efforts and we also ask others to join our collective effort to Save the Manumea before it is too late,” she says.

Prints can be purchased either at the Ralph Steadman Shop or through Eight-One who are partnering from Samoa