Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
100 ‘elephants’ migrate into Beverly Hills with a message of coexistence
The elephants traveled along the East Coast, through the South and Great Plains, and made a stop in Montana. Their final destination: Beverly Hills on Friday.
(
Destiny Torres
/
LAist
)
After traveling more than 5,000 miles across the United States, the Great Elephant Migration is ending its journey in Beverly Hills.
The 100 elephant sculptures — signifying a peaceful coexistence between animals and humans — were hauled in on pickup trucks along Santa Monica Boulevard. The last three elephants crossed a ceremonial finish line outside the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Friday.
The project is intended to inspire others to care more for nature.
“It's meant to show communities in the U.S. what it's like to live with wildlife, how to coexist with it, in a way where we are able to have a relationship, as opposed to seeing it as something distant,” said Feh Tarty, chairperson of Elephant Family USA, the nonprofit behind the exhibit. “We want people to start to think of the wildlife in their own communities and have a different perspective on what is their purpose here.”
Support for LAist comes from
Creating the elephants
The elephants are life-sized and made of lantana camara, an invasive shrub that has sprouted across India’s forests, pushing elephants out of their habitats. Each elephant is a replica of a real wild Indian elephant.
The sculptures are a collaborative effort handmade by the artists who live alongside them in southern India.
Jaishankar Raman and his wife, Lakshmi, said they have been following the elephants’ journey online since their first stop in Rhode Island.
“I think it's incredible to learn that there are so many complexities of elephants and how they live with humans,” Jaishankar Raman said. “This project kind of brings together the difficulties, but also what can be done to make positive change.”
The two are looking forward to walking down Santa Monica Boulevard to appreciate the sculptures.
Support for LAist comes from
The figures are made of an invasive plant that has pushed Indian elephants out of their habitats.
(
Destiny Torres
/
LAist
)
Some visitors joined in on the celebration to cheer on their artist friends. Ruth Mathieu said she and her family were there to see the artistry and support one of the blanket designers.
“Just being here, you see all the beautiful colors, people from different nationalities here wearing their native clothes, and the elephants are just so beautiful,” Mathieu said. “The main word that comes to mind is — unity.”
Nicole King came to L.A. from New York to see one of her blanket designs grace an elephant sculpture.
“It actually speaks to, I think, what we'd like the United States to be about right now, which is basically history of everyone's history,” King said. “It’s a celebration of all these artisans coming together as one community.
The elephants are for sale from $8,000 to $22,000. Proceeds go to projects that protect biodiversity and support the coexistence of humans and animals.
The figures traveled a circuitous 5,000-mile route to get to Beverly Hills from Rhode Island.
(
Destiny Torres
/
LAist
)
Support for LAist comes from
Check it out
Curious about the sculptures? See them for yourself starting July 1. The exhibition will take up four blocks of Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills through Aug. 1.
“You can try to imagine it all you want … but until you see it, it's gonna pull something out of you that you wouldn't believe you've experienced,” Tarty said. “You just have to see it and have that visual experience. That's what these sculptures do for people.”
See you in Beverly Hills.
(
Destiny Torres
/
LAist
)
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed. -
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
-
The budget gap has led to a tuition hike, along with spending cuts and fewer course offerings. At the same time, generative AI already has transformed higher ed — including post-grad job prospects.
Best of LAist