Elephants are on the march—and they may be coming to a city near you! You might be wondering what kind of mess they will cause as they stomp through streets and parks. But don’t worry. These aren’t real elephants. They are elephant sculptures. They are part of a public art exhibit called the Great Elephant Migration. And they are here to spread a message.
The elephant sculptures were crafted by Indigenous artists from across India. Each sculpture is modeled after a real elephant roaming freely in the wild. The artists used wood from a harmful plant to make the sculptures. The plant has spread across parts of India. Ecosystems that elephants rely on have been damaged by the plant. [An ecosystem is an area where plants, animals, and the environment interact.]
The exhibit hopes to teach people about issues impacting wildlife. Elephants around the world are endangered [at risk of going extinct]. The exhibit’s organizers want people to help protect Earth’s ecosystems. They set up the sculptures in parks and in other public spaces for an important reason. They wanted to show that people and wildlife can coexist [to live at the same time or in the same place].
The elephant sculptures have already traveled thousands of miles, delighting people everywhere they go. Their first US stop was in Newport, Rhode Island. They then moved to New York City and Miami Beach, Florida. They will arrive in Houston, Texas, in April. They will appear at Hermann Park from April 1st to the 28th. Later this year, the exhibit will travel to Wyoming, Montana, and California.
What Do You Think? How can people and wildlife coexist?
Photo Credit: Erik Pendzich / Alamy Stock Photo
