25-02-2025
Life-size elephant herd exhibit coming to Hermann Park
One hundred and one life-size elephant sculptures will be showcased in Houston's Hermann Park in April.
Why it matters: The herd of Indian elephant sculptures has been migrating across the country to raise money for Indigenous and community-led conservation efforts.
"The Great Elephant Migration" will be on view through April, after stops in New York City, Miami and Newport, Rhode Island.
How they're made: Indigenous Indian artisans from the Real Elephant Collective craft the sculptures from an invasive weed called Lantana camara.
They range in weight from about 176 pounds for a calf to about 880 pounds for a tusker, which also measures 15 feet long.
The intrigue: For the first time, the original herd of 100 elephant sculptures will be joined by the biggest elephant yet in Houston.
The massive tusker was modeled after a real Kenyan elephant who was a true giant of the African savanna, towering at 10 feet tall and weighing over 6 tons.
Stunning stat: The invasive Lantana camara has entangled 300,000 square kilometers of India's forests, diminishing food sources for herbivores. It is also invasive in Texas, where it disrupts native ecosystems.
"The Great Elephant Migration is more than an art installation — it is a call to action and a place to experience joy," said Cara Lambright, president and CEO of Hermann Park Conservancy.
"By bringing this breathtaking global effort to Hermann Park, we are inviting our community to be part of a worldwide movement to protect ecosystems, eradicate invasive species, and inspire change," Lambright said. "These are shared values that span continents."
