Bringing the Jungle Indoors - Creating a Lifelike Leopard Habitat

Have you ever wanted to bring a piece of the jungle into your home? Well, that's exactly what I did for a project in the "Big and Small" contest. I created a miniature leopard terrarium that captures the essence of a real leopard habitat. The project involved sculpting a detailed miniature leopard, designing and constructing a closed terrarium, and carefully placing the leopard inside to create a lifelike scene. In this article, I will share the process and materials used to create this unique and captivating project. Join me as we explore the art of terrarium-making and the beauty of bringing nature indoors.

Materials:

• Modeling clay - https://amzn.to/3M601Ri
• Acrylic Paints
• Small plants, mosses, ferns and twigs
• Clear Round Glass Jar - https://amzn.to/42yswML
• Potting mix - https://amzn.to/3VERPL3
• Small dragon stones
• 18 gauge Galvanized wire 20 cm

Tools:

• Tong - https://amzn.to/42ysbtt
• Sculpting tool

Here I started with white modeling clay.

• Took two small amount of clay and made two spheres and combined them together.
• Using the sculpting tools I sculpted the face of the leopard.

• Used comparatively larger portion of modeling clay to sculpt the body.
• Used galvanized wires to reinforce the structure.
• Added details like - tail, ears, paws

• Start with white acrylic as a base colour.
• Use ochre yellow for the body and hilight with brown and black.
• Painted the spots of leopard using black colour.

I used a Borosilicate Jar 700ML with lid.

Cleaned it up with spray water.

Made a bed with potting mix and carefully planted the plants using a tong.

Plants used:

• Selaginella
• Maidenhair fern
• Baby Tears Plant
• Spike Moss

In conclusion, creating a miniature leopard terrarium was an exciting and rewarding project that allowed me to bring a piece of the jungle into my home. The combination of sculpture, design, and plant selection made this project a true work of art. Through the process, I learned about the importance of balancing the needs of both the plant and animal life. It was also a reminder of the beauty and power of nature, and how we can capture and appreciate it in our own homes. I hope that this project has inspired you to create your own miniature world and experience the joy of bringing the outdoors indoors.

After about 3-4 days I can see the roots evolving inside and gripping the soil. A good sign for my terrarium.