The closest we get to seeing elephants here in Miami is paying a visit to the zoo. But we’re in for a treat this December, when 100 Indian elephants make their way to the sands of Miami Beach as part of a year-long tour across the country!
Well… not quite. These elephants aren’t exactly real; they’re life-sized statues with the intent of spreading awareness about conservation efforts. Dubbed The Great Elephant Migration, the public art installation is a collaboration between Indigenous artisans, contemporary artists and cultural institutions, to raise vital funds for conservation projects and inspire peaceful human-wildlife coexistence.
Each elephant is created by The Coexistence Collective, a community of Indigenous artisans living in India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. They’ve recreated every elephant they live alongside using lantana camara, an invasive weed that threatens the elephants’ natural forest habitat.
And much like a real herd, 100 of these giants are migrating across the U.S. They can currently be seen at Newport, Rhode Island through September, before making their way to our friends in New York City. After two months, they’ll arrive in Miami Beach in December.
Following Miami’s stop, while perhaps picking up a tan, the elephants will pay a visit to the Blackfeet Nation Buffalo Pastures in Montana in 2025, before completing their journey in Los Angeles.
You can learn more about The Great Elephant Migration on their website.