A herd of life-sized sculptures of elephants have arrived in London, and are on display ahead of being sold for charity.
Each of the 100 Asian elephants was made by communities in the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India where they coexist in denser populations than anywhere else in the world.
The sculptures have been crafted from Lantana camara, a plant introduced to Asia where it has become a notorious weed; toxic to grazing animals and outcompeting native species leading to a reduction in biodiversity.
Chopping down a toxic weed is now able to be a fundraiser for wildlife.
They’re now on a global tour, which has stopped in London for a few weeks.
The herd are currently residing at the Cadogan Estate on the King’s Road (Duke of York Square, outside the Saatchi Gallery and on some side streets) ahead of their migration to Green Park, St James’s Park and Berkeley Square from 14th June to 23rd July.
There’s also an unrelated herd of elephants in Spitalfields at the moment.
I think they should be kept together. Families shouldn’t be split up 🐘🐘🐘
That’s a very sweet comment 🙂
I would love one of these elephants! The beautiful sculptures have done the species proud.
how about raising some money for WWF as well same time what ever public can give have a donation boxes where ever the elephants are sistuatited.
I think this is rubbish. What? £60k for a fake elephant 🐘? What the hell is wrong with you.
They look fantastic. Really nice of the artist to put them in that posh neighborhood for all the rich folk to enjoy 🥂
For everyone to enjoy – you don’t need to be rich to walk through the area to get to the Army Museum, the Saatchi Gallery, the local council housing estate, etc.
I’m not rich and I don’t live in Chelsea but I live in a free country and can go and see the beautiful elephants when ever I want.
My kids loved them so much 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘
Walking to the Royal Marsden and I was amazed to see these beautiful sculptures, thank you so much for displaying them👏👏💖💖💖
I agree with Maurice, elephant families should always stay together!
I’d like to know how these elephants are helping to save the species? Where is the money going? I’m going to see them at the weekend, I would be happy to donate to the cause.
Questions about how the money is being spent would be best addressed to the charity that is spending the money.
Anyone who knows more about those elephants, knows which of those places have the most elephants there, please, just to confirm? Planning to visit them soon. Thanks a lot in advance.
There are several in St James Park and even more in herds in Green Park. They are only there until 23rd July. After that we are told they will be sold to individual buyers. They are very impressive and well worth a visit if you can get there.
Can we buy an elephant
Click on the link in the article where it explains how to buy them.
I was surprisingly moved by seeing these in Green Park after seeing a movie at Curzon Mayfair last month. I think it was the accompanying boards that were written in the first person in which the elephants talked about their lives and struggles. Oh!