The Empire State Building Lights Up With Endangered Animals (4 Videos)

On Saturday night, the Empire State Building lit up with images projecting some of the world's most endangered species - stretching over 33 floors. From eagles, to snow leopards, tigers and monkeys, and of course, the honorable Cecil the lion who died at the hands of an American dentist, New Yorkers were stopped in their tracks as they take in the fascinating display.

Rebby Sutherland

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With the aid of 40 projectors, the projection was the first of its kind on the iconic building and came about as a way to promote a new upcoming documentary film - "Racing Extinction", a collaborative effort of the Oceanic Preservation Society and the filmmakers.

Josiah Ryan

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From The Verge:

"Racing Extinction" follows a team of activists on a mission to expose the two largest threats to biodiversity — the international wildlife trade and society's growing carbon footprint. Rising carbon emissions have led to the acidification of Earth's oceans, causing the widespread deaths of many shelled sea creatures. And effects from climate change have led to the habitat loss of threatened species across the globe.

‘We lit up the Empire State Building with the world’s most beautiful — and threatened — species to show the world what’s at stake,’ said the filmmakers on their website.

The film, helmed by Oscar winning director and photographer Louie Psihoyos — the director of "The Cove", will be shown on The Discovery Channel in December. The project is said to have cost $1 million, according to The New York Times.

Source(s): theverge | metro | cnn

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More Great Captures

The New Yorker

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