Large Print Mural: Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary
Company: Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
As part of the Calgary Zoo’s brand refresh, the organization identified opportunities to further spotlight its global conservation initiatives, including its long-standing partnership with the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary (WCHS). Established to protect one of the last remaining hippo populations in Ghana, WCHS has become a leading model for community-based conservation.
The existing mural within the hippo building had deteriorated and required replacement, presenting an opportunity to introduce a new large-scale printed interpretive installation.
In collaboration with the zoo’s interpretive planner, conservation, animal care, and production teams, I developed an educational mural that brought the zoo’s international conservation story to life. The installation translated complex ecological systems and community partnerships into a visually engaging and accessible narrative for visitors.
Creative Direction
The original concept explored three distinct environmental zones, each representing a different conservation initiative, including the Kenya Mountain Bongo Partnership. Due to timeline constraints, in order to align installation with a scheduled building closure for maintenance, the direction was strategically refined to focus on a single environment. That illustration was compositionally expanded to span the full length of the wall, preserving depth, scale, and visual impact within the space.
Given its placement within the hippo habitat building, the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary was selected as the featured landscape, showcasing species such as white faced whistling ducks and hamerkops that can be found at the zoo allowing guests an even deeper connection with conservation.
Original Illustration concept. A simplified direction was selected to align with project timeline constraints.
Composition and Installation
The mural was a total of 60 feet and because it was positioned along a ramp directly adjacent to visitor pathways, it required exceptional print resolution to withstand close-range viewing. Achieving museum-quality output at this scale presented technical production challenges, particularly given the wall’s angled dimensions and non-uniform measurements.
Using Procreate for illustration and Photoshop for final composition allowed for precise pixel control and high-resolution output suitable for large-scale printing. Artwork safe zones were intentionally extended to accommodate minor dimensional variations and unpredictable bleed areas, ensuring that no critical visual elements were compromised during production or installation.
Additional constraints included integrating around existing vents and required safety signage, as well as specifying a material durable enough to withstand regular pressure washing due to its placement outdoors near the hippo habitat.
Impact
The final installation balances educational clarity, artistic detail, and environmental durability, creating a powerful interpretive feature that reinforces the Zoo’s global conservation partnerships while enhancing the visitor experience.
