Human behavior and pollution can have a devastating impact on the environment, leading to the endangerment and extinction of keystone species, which are species that have important roles in balancing ecosystems.

Humans are trying to replicate the benefits of endangered species by replacing them with technology. For example, pollination is essential for food crops all around the world, but the population of one of the biggest pollinators, the honeybee, is decreasing rapidly. One-third of the food in the United States comes from crops pollinated by honeybees. As a solution to the decline of bee populations, scientists are using drones, fans, and even soap bubbles as pollen delivery alternatives. Technology can improve humanity’s survival chances, but what about the endangered species that we are trying to replace? What would happen to them?

This artistic rendering explores the human instinct to save ourselves from the consequences of our actions rather than save the species we’ve negatively impacted. It prompts the questions -

Instead of reintroducing them or minimizing our impact on the environment, what if we just replaced the species we drive extinct with other things that do their jobs?

What if we replaced them with Fleshimals?

Fleshimal

noun

a version of an animal species if it was a genetic hybrid made out of human fingers, hands, feet, and other body parts. Designed to evoke curiosity and disgust.

Sea otters were nearly wiped out by fur hunters during the 1800’s, and their absence had a huge effect on the marine ecosystem. This caused their prey, the purple sea urchin, to experience massive population growth.

Kelp forests are home to hundreds of different marine species. However, since there were no hungry otters to be wary of, the purple sea urchin was able to eat almost 90% of the kelp forests on the Northern California coast, and almost 65% of the kelp forests in Monterey Bay.

If we look in areas where sea otters have been reintroduced, the sea urchin population has been brought back into check, and we can see improvements in the kelp forest ecosystem. These results show the impact of Keystone Species loss and reintroduction.

The Process

Sketches of the species to understand the anatomy.
Digital Illustration of the Fleshimal version
Use Blender to block out body, using illustration as reference
Transfer into Nomad3D to sculpt the details; eyes, nose, fingers, and skin
Use Meshmixer to reduce file size, and easily hollow out 3D Sculpt
Import to PruisaSlicer Alpha to break sculpt into pieces and add registration pins
Set up the prints for 3D Printing and hit start
Assemble and glue parts together
Seal gaps and color match filament
Give the Sea Odder a manicure (and put it on display)