100 elephant structures are in Boston; Here’s where to find them
The Great Elephant Migration will be on display starting Saturday along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston after touring across the country
Digital Content Producer, Video
BOSTON —
One hundred handcrafted elephant sculptures will be on display in Boston at Commonwealth Avenue Mall starting this Saturday. The nearly mile-long installation marks an extension of the official Great Elephant Migration exhibition and will be free and open to visitors through Sept. 13.
The herd of wooden elephants was crafted by 300 artisans in India and unveiled in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 4, 2024, before “migrating” from city to city across the country. Through fundraising, the exhibition’s goal has been to raise elephant population awareness.
According to Ruth Ganesh, co-founder of the Great Elephant Migration, each elephant sculpture represents a real elephant living in India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Each sculpture functions as a realistic portrait and is made from an invasive root called Lantana camara.
“About 40% of India’s protected areas in the south are completely overrun with this shrub,” Ganesh said. “It’s actually pushing wildlife out of protected areas into conflict with humans. So the idea was to create sculptures in a way that actually benefited their real-life counterparts.”
The exhibition is also supporting elephants through its fundraiser. Each sculpture in the herd is for sale and goes toward community-led conservation efforts.
“About 700 elephants have been dispersed already throughout America. And, we’ve been able, with that money, to fund a lot of different projects that help humans and animals overlap,” Ganesh said.
She said the public reaction is overwhelmingly positive.
“The reaction has been beyond our comprehension,” Ganesh said. “It’s just a joyful, joyful, moment when they come out, because the public are also saying, ‘What is it all about? Thank you so much for bringing them.'”