Draw of the wild: Animal artist sketches ailing polar bear Inuka

Lecturer Philip Garcia, who has been drawing animals at the zoo for seven years, specially visited polar bear Inuka to sketch it on hearing about its declining health

Philip Garcia, 61, has been sketching animals at the zoo for seven years and has a book full of drawings of white tigers, zebras, rhinos, elephants, giraffes and more, created with brush pens, colour pencils and ballpoint pens.
Philip Garcia, 61, has been sketching animals at the zoo for seven years and has a book full of drawings of white tigers, zebras, rhinos, elephants, giraffes and more, created with brush pens, colour pencils and ballpoint pens. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of (from left) Inuka the polar bear, white rhinos, a zebra and the skeleton of a sperm whale. Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.
Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN, PHILIP GARCIA
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of (from left) Inuka the polar bear, white rhinos, a zebra and the skeleton of a sperm whale. Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of Inuka the polar bear.PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN, PHILIP GARCIA
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of (from left) Inuka the polar bear, white rhinos, a zebra and the skeleton of a sperm whale. Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of a zebra.PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN, PHILIP GARCIA
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of (from left) Inuka the polar bear, white rhinos, a zebra and the skeleton of a sperm whale. Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of the skeleton of a sperm whale.PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN, PHILIP GARCIA
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of (from left) Inuka the polar bear, white rhinos, a zebra and the skeleton of a sperm whale. Big cats such as tigers are among Mr Philip Garcia's favourite subjects.
Mr Philip Garcia's drawings include those of white rhinos.PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN, PHILIP GARCIA
Published: 
Apr 22, 2018, 5:00 am SGT
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On hearing that Singapore Zoo's polar bear Inuka was in poor health, Mr Philip Garcia made a special visit to the Mandai attraction last week.

The American citizen of Filipino descent was eager to sketch the 27-year-old polar bear, estimated to be in his 70s in human years, before it was too late.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 22, 2018, with the headline 'Draw of the wild'. Subscribe
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