By Tristan Luap P. Senarillos

What happens when art transcends conservation?

Based in Davao City, Ferd Torres is an artist and an Applied Mathematics graduate at the University of the Philippines Mindanao whose work beautifully bridges science, art, and nature. Despite coming from a field far removed from biology and wildlife sciences, Ferd found himself deeply immersed in conservation storytelling through art, proving that people from different disciplines can still play meaningful roles in protecting biodiversity.

Since childhood, Ferd has always been drawn to three things: mathematics, the arts, and nature, especially where these passions intersect. Although he never formally trained in biology or environmental sciences, his curiosity and creativity eventually led him into the world of wildlife conservation and scientific illustration.

As a young artist, he spent years exploring different artistic styles before eventually discovering his own visual identity. Inspired by the scientific illustrations commonly seen in encyclopedias, Ferd developed a digital illustration style that is light and expressive yet scientifically accurate and detailed. Using a drawing tablet and laptop, he creates artworks that make wildlife both visually compelling and accessible to the public.

His deeper connection to migratory waterbirds began during his early experiences in a wildlife laboratory. There, he encountered a poster featuring seabirds of the Philippines. At first, he found shorebirds difficult to identify because many species looked very similar to one another. However, instead of discouraging him, this challenge motivated him to learn more.

This curiosity eventually introduced him to migratory waterbirds, flyways, and telemetry studies. Through social media and online learning, Ferd became fascinated by the movement data of birds traveling across countries and continents. What captivated him most was the realization that migratory birds exist beyond human borders.

“They are free,” Ferd shared. “No one owns them.”

For the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) World Migratory Bird Day global campaign, Ferd created an artwork as part of “Youth Voices for the Flyway,” highlighting both migratory waterbirds and the people working to protect them. His composition features the silhouette of an observer containing representative flagship species of the flyway, with important wetland habitats placed in the background.

The artwork reflects a powerful message: while humans can contribute to habitat destruction and species decline, humans can also become part of the solution. Ferd emphasises that data gathered by experts, researchers, and citizen scientists play a crucial role in understanding and conserving these winged travelers.

For Ferd, conservation begins with awareness. “If people simply become aware that these species and habitats exist, that alone is already a big achievement,” he explained. “It creates a spark.”

Through his art, Ferd hopes to bring wildlife closer to people and inspire greater appreciation for migratory birds and their habitats. At the same time, he hopes his own journey encourages other artists and young creatives, especially those without backgrounds in biology or environmental science, to realise that they, too, can contribute to conservation.

By combining scientific accuracy with creativity, he aims to make conservation stories more relatable and emotionally engaging.

To young people who want to use their creativity for conservation, Ferd encourages them to continue creating with passion and responsibility.

“Make sure your work is grounded in facts and scientific basis,” he advised. “Find your audience, because art can influence how people think.”

He also reminds aspiring artists to keep their passion alive, especially in the field of wildlife art and scientific illustration, which remains a highly specialised niche in the Philippines.

“There are many artists,” Ferd said, “but very few continue creating art for wildlife conservation in the Philippines. Keep that fire burning because it can take you very far.”

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