Save money on a safari this April in Houston at the debut of the Great Elephant Migration at Hermann Park. The free outdoor public art installation is now on display at The Commons features 100 life-sized Indian elephants made from dried latana plants to highlight the importance of wildlife conservation.
The Great Elephant Migration, featuring an army of 100 real-size elephant sculptures, is now on display at Hermann Park. The installation highlights the relationship between Indian elephants and the Indigenous communities that coexist with them.
Developed in collaboration between contemporary artists, indigenous artisans, and cultural institutions, the initiative supports over 20 conservation organizations globally. Funds raised from the tour will go toward human-wildlife coexistence projects in the U.S. and internationally.
Running from April 1 to April 30, The Great Migration is a global traveling tour where Houston marks its fourth stop. Notably, the elephant exhibition in Houston features “the largest tusker the herd has ever had on display“.
Where can I see the elephant exhibition in Houston? The majority of the elephant sculptures are congregated in Hermann Park’s newly debuted area, The Commons. Here, park officials invite visitors to witness and interact with the sculptures through the parks operating hours: 6 am to 11 pm.
However, visitors can also pods of elephants scattered about the city of Houston including in the Texas Medical Center, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and one elephant aside the Sam Houston Monument.
“The Great Elephant Migration is more than an art installation—it is a call to action and a place to experience joy,” said president & CEO of Hermann Park Conservancy, Cara Lambright.
“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. These are shared values that span continents.”
Hermann Park officials encourage visitors to interact with the elephant installation, in which visitors can touch the sculptures so as they are treated with care. You cannot, however, climb them. The Great Elephant Migration is now on display at The Commons at Hermann Park, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Texas Medical Center.
See also: 11 wonderful parks in Houston to visit this spring