On December 10, 2023, a self-taught artist-cartographer and outdoorsman was celebrated for completing an extraordinary project, the likes of which few have seen. After three years of intense dedication, Anton Thomas successfully crafted “Wild World,” a hand-drawn map of our planet featuring approximately 1,642 animal species.
Thomas, a native New Zealander living in Australia, began the project in July 2020 in his small apartment. He had initially anticipated completing the map in less than a year, but his obsessive nature and love for the natural world led him to spend 2,602 working hours ensuring that every detail was perfect.
The map features New Zealand’s native birds, dolphins, turtles, whales, and polar bears, all meticulously hand-drawn. The project became a way for Thomas to escape spiritually and avoid going mad during the challenging months of 2020 and beyond.
To create such a detailed map, Thomas spent most of his time researching and drawing under a magnifying glass, using sandpaper to sharpen his pencil to meticulous points. He enforced guidelines, ensuring that animals were native to their location and not domesticated or extinct. The project also included the use of specific geographic markers and boundaries, all viewed through a Natural Earth projection.
Though the completion of “Wild World” marks a significant achievement for Thomas, he sees it as just the beginning of his career as an artist-cartographer. He plans to pursue further projects combining his love for the natural world and his artistic talents.
Thomas’s work has captivated the art world, impressing fellow cartographers with its incredible level of detail and emotional depth. The unique method of crafting the map entirely by hand without digital tools or erase capabilities sets his work apart, leaving a lasting impact on all who have the chance to see it.