Stunning Display of Endangered Animals Takes Over Vatican City (PHOTOS+VIDEO)

The team behind eye-opening documentary “Racing Extinction,” which documents the sixth mass extinction event in the Earth’s history – and the first to be driven by human activity – are on a mission to make us sit up and take notice of what is happening to the species who share this planet with us. They have previously raised awareness of the cause by projecting stunning images of endangered animals onto landmarks like the Empire State Building and the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Both displays helped to bring the state of the world’s rapidly dwindling biodiversity to the forefront of public attention. It is estimated that our planet has lost a shocking 52 percent of its wildlife in the last four decades.

And now, the “Racing Extinction” crew has spread their message to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.

Breathtaking images of endangered species were projected onto the ancient church.

The Racing Extinction team published the photos to their Facebook page with the caption: “‘The whole world is singing, but we’ve stopped listening’ … until now. Listen to and watch Earth’s amazing creatures.”

Featured animals included pandas, slow lorises, chimps, and leopards.

A beautiful clownfish also made an appearance…

… as did a group of adorable red wolf cubs! Only 290 red wolves remain in the wild.

Since it first premiered at the Sundance Festival earlier this year, “Racing Extinction” has made great progress in its mission to shine a light on the perilous situation of the world’s wildlife. Director Louie Psihoyos – who was also behind 2009’s hard-hitting film “The Cove” – has previously said of the documentary, “I’ve got faith because documentaries are a powerful, powerful weapon. If you see (Racing Extinction) you have a chance to change people’s hearts … The point of the documentary is to make a difference.”

No doubt about it: this latest display in the Vatican City is an amazing, creative way to raise awareness of our urgent need to protect endangered species … before it’s too late. Watch the entire show in the video below:

You can keep up with the documentary’s progress by following its Facebook page, Twitter feed, or website. For more information on how you can make a difference in the fight to save Earth’s vulnerable animals, read some of the posts below:

• Why You Should Avoid Palm Oil, and How to Do It
• 6 Ways You Can Help Save Our Oceans
• Coral Reefs, the Lifelines of the Oceans, are Dying, But You Have the Power to Fix This Today!
• Northern White Rhino Nearly Went Extinct While You Were Sleeping – Time to Wake Up!
• How to Change Your Consumption Habits to Benefit Endangered Species

All image source: Racing Extinction/Facebook