Elephants on parade

SCULPTURES TRAVEL TO LONDON FOR SPECIAL CAUSE

ELEPHANT sculptures have been erected across London as a re­minder to protect the animals from the threat of extinction.

The 30 decorated artworks from Elephant Parade, a social enterprise which runs the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues, were launched by the Duchess of Cornwall last month.

The elephants are located in some of central London’s most eminent areas throughout Chelsea and May­fair, including Grosvenor Square, Brown Hart Gardens, South Molton Street, Ebury Street and Carlos Place.

Decorated by some of the sub­continent’s most renowned artists, designers and creative talents, the figurines have travelled from India to celebrate the £4 million raised by Londoners who welcomed the ele­phant sculptures to the city in 2010.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness that only 40,000 Asian elephants currently remain in the wild. In the past 50 years, the ele­phant population is estimated to have halved and 90 per of their natural habitat has disappeared.

Poaching, a growing skin trade, and demand for wild-caught ba­bies for tourism also remain a con­tinuous threat. It is estimated that 20 per cent of the animals now live within close proximity to humans, signifying the growth of human population across Asia. The lack of space, taken up by buildings and agriculture, mean the elephants come into regular conflict, often with deadly consequences.

UK charity Elephant Family has partnered with Elephant Parade to raise awareness. The organisation, founded in 2002, has funded more than 160 conservation projects and raised £15m through public art events.

Since launching the art project in 2007, Elephant Parade has visited dozens of cities around the world including Hong Kong; Milan; Bangkok; Sao Paolo; Copenhagen; Amsterdam; Luxembourg; Dana Point California and Singapore.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are joint Roy­al Presidents of the charity.

To help support various Asian elephant conservation projects across Asia, visitors also have an op­portunity to bid for their favourite elephant online. The money donat­ed will contribute to these projects.

n To bid for an elephant, please see: www.paddle8.com/elephant-parade-london. To track the ele­phant sculptures across the capi­tal, see: https://concoursdele­phant.co.uk/the-elephants/