WildEast Birds Join The Elephants Of CoExistence
WildEast, an East Anglian movement on a mission to return 20% of the region to nature, is collaborating with CoExistence, a new and exciting environmental art exhibition on display now. It draws attention to the importance of coexisting with nature, as well as to the biodiversity we have lost in the UK.
The CoExistence exhibition, by Elephant Family and The Real Elephant Collective, features 100 life size lantana elephant sculptures. Joining them are flocks of extinct or endangered British birds such as the nightingale, curlew, Dalmatian pelican and turtle dove; these sculptures were commissioned by WildEast, one of the most ambitious visions to launch in the past 12 months.
Projects made possible by CoExistence include the securement of wildlife corridors which enable safe movement for animals and people, the expansion of national parks and the protection of vital tribal knowledge and livelihoods.
Initiated by 3 East Anglian farmers, WildEast's aim is to lead the UK towards a future of greater biodiversity and to bring the wild back to our landscapes.
On Saturday, the herd and birds crossed The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, on their way to the Kings Road.It's possible to visit the sculptures while they are in the City of London and Royal Parks until July.
AboutCoExistence
An environmental art exhibition by Elephant Family and The Real Elephant Collective featuring 100 life size Asian elephants. The elephants have been created deep in the jungles of Tamil Nadu by Indigenous communities who live in close proximity to their real-life counterparts. Here, people and elephants coexist in denser populations than anywhere else in the world. The CoExistence campaign is a response to the increasing overlap between the human and animal world, which is in part responsible for the spread of deadly zoonotic diseases.
The campaign aims to trigger a moment of collective empathy for the world’s biggest and most intelligent land animal, like so many magical creatures, now find themselves living in human-dominated landscapes. Launched by the leading conservation Elephant Family charity, the campaign uses indigenous art to turn green spaces into examples of successful human-animal coexistence, both locally and globally - raising awareness and funds to make sure humans and wildlife can coexist better around the world. The elephants are hand made from lantana, an invasive weed whose removal from protected areas benefits wildlife.
The campaign marks a unique moment in time when a global reduction in human activity has had a positive effect on wildlife around the world. It has now been scientifically demonstrated* that the moment we lighten our footprint, wildlife flourishes and in doing so, transforms the health of the planet for all. Lockdown has shown us that coexistence with wildlife in human dominated landscapes is very much possible.
Ruth Ganesh, Creative Lead and Trustee, Elephant Family commented: “Today marks the first significant step on the herd’s 13,000-mile migration around the world. Over the past 18 months, many countries have gone into lockdown. Brought about by tragic circumstances, this ‘great pause’ – coined the ‘anthropause’ - is providing crucial guidance on how to best share space with animals in our crowded planet. The elephants are here to tell their story about the inspiring ways we can coexist with all the other living beings that make our world magical – from tigers and orangutans to nightingales and elephants.”
The installation was brought to life with the support of Xerjoff perfumes, creating a multi-sensory experience through fragrance, transporting people to the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India where the elephants began their migration. Sergio Momo, Founder and Creative Manager of Xerjoff commented; “We are delighted to support the CoExistence campaign and raise awareness of an incredibly important topic. As a brand we take so much inspiration from the wonders of nature and it is vital that we work to protect the wildlife and ecosystems within it so we can coexist together.
Follow their journey through London and support these pioneering projects here www.coexistence.org.
For more information on WildEast visit www.wildeast.co.uk.
