JACKSON, Wyo. — The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will host some new animal visitors this summer in the form of 30 life-size elephant sculptures.
The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) will present the art installation until Friday, June 20, on its outdoor sculpture trail, which is open to the public. The elephants begin their journey in July 2024 with a stint in Newport, RI, before migrating across the U.S. with stops in New York and Miami. They will end their journey in Los Angeles in July.
Each sculpted elephant represents a live elephant living in Tamil Nadu in southern India, helping to tell the story of their coexistence with Indigenous communities in the area. The sculptures were built by Indigenous artisan group the Real Elephant Collective, and are made of Lantana camara, an invasive species posing issues as it takes over tens of thousands of miles of India’s protected lands, according to the NMWA. The spread of the weed can push wildlife out of natural habitats and into urban areas, increasing the chance of human-wildlife conflicts.
The GYE’s rich combination of wildlife and human development make it a natural fit to host the exhibit, according to one of its creators.
“You have such an array of wildlife where there are genuine coexistence challenges, so this exhibition about elephants coexisting with humans brings the issue to life,” Ruth Ganesh, co-founder and co-creator of The Great Elephant Migration, said in a statement. NMWA points out that the sculptures will be juxtaposed with depictions of bison, bears, coyotes and more on the sculpture trail, mirroring natural coexistence. Plus, live elk, mule deer and more are likely to pass by.
The museum will host a free community celebration in the elephants’ honor on Friday, May 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. Blackfeet artist Terrance Guardipee will lead a blessing of the elephants. A farewell event will also be held on June 22.
