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A public environmental art campaign

An epic journey of art and conservation, Elephant Family's CoExistence campaign has captured the imagination of global audiences. 

About the event

125 life-sized Lantana elephants make a bold statement about coexistence 

In May 2021, the launch of CoExistence was marked by an unforgettable image as a herd of 50 elephants brought London to a standstill by marching across The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. 

A public art exhibition followed, where 125 of these life-sized elephant sculptures were showcased in London's Royal Parks, addressing the growing overlap of the human and animal world whilst demonstrating the inspiring ways we can coexist with all the other living beings that call our planet home.

CoExistence, developed by Ruth Ganesh of Elephant Family in partnership with Indian based non-profit The Real Elephant Collective,
raised over £3m to ensure humans and wildlife can coexist. 

Our Conservation work
A baby reaches out to touch the trunk of a Lantana elephant sculpture
The Great Elephant Migration

The herd travels to America

The Lantana elephants travelled across the USA as part of The Great Elephant Migration, spearheaded by Ruth Ganesh and presented by the Elephant Family USA. 

The event saw the herd of 100 magnificent Asian elephants travel 5,000 miles across the country. Over 13 months, hundreds of headlines were generated and $5 million was raised to power projects helping people living with all kinds of animals around the world. 

The Lantana herd invited it's viewers to reimagine a world filled with wildness, wonder and hope; to remember that humans are not separate from nature but are part of it.

Thank you to Xerjoff for supporting this incredible campaign. 
The Great Elephant Migration brings Miami to a standstill
The sculptors

Indigenous artisans for conservation

The Lantana elephants are a unique mix of art, heritage, and livelihoods - they're made from the invasive weed Lantana camara and sculpted by indigenous artists who are preserving coexistence through their ancient cultural connection to the forests. 

The Real Elephant Collective (TREC), a 200-strong team of highly skilled artisans from the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga communities of India's Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve have gained international acclaim for their creation of stunning life-size elephant sculptures, which are captivating audiences worldwide. 

The artisans push a Lantana elephant sculpture upright

The Coexistence Campaign gallery

Ruth Ganesh and Donna Air toast the Lantana elephant sculptures with Nyetimber
HRH Princess Eugenie of York introduces the Lantana elephants to the newest member of their herd
A baby reaches out to touch the trunk of a Lantana elephant sculpture
Visitors pose for photos with Lantana elephant sculptures at the Royal Parks
TRUEFITT & HILL with the Lantana elephant sculptures
A private viewing of the Lantana sculptures and celebration of the CoExistence campaign
Indigenous community members walk past the Lantana elephant sculptures in an open landscape
The IBI Logistics team moves a Lantana elephant sculpture at Berkeley Square
The herd of Lantana elephant sculptures at the Royal Parks
A dog faces a Lantana elephant sculpture at the Royal Parks
The Great Elephant Migration brings Miami to a standstill
The Lantana elephant greeted with flowers during the Great Elephant Migration
The Lantana herd migrates to Houston, photo by Houston First Corporation
The Lantana herd lights up the United States of America, photo by Tasha Gorel
A child feeds a Lantana elephant grass in Houston
Our partners

Event partners

  • Xerjoff Italian luxury perfume
  • Love Brand & Co.
  • Truefitt & Hill London
  • Petersham Nurseries
  • Nyetimber
  • savills
  • House of Waris Botanicals
  • Chantecaille
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Get involved

Find out ways to get involved with Elephant Family. Whether it's regular giving, signing up to hear about our work or becoming a brand partner, come and join the herd! 

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