A hundred life-sized elephants have migrated to a sunny South Florida beach, captivating visitors as part of “The Great Elephant Migration” exhibit.
The free public art installation, previewing a week ahead of Art Basel, features hand-crafted sculptures set along the sand between 36th and 37th Streets.
“Each elephant has its own personality, which is super cool—one is silly, another is determined,” said Emma Cason-Pratt, a local design director.
Each elephant is modeled after a real one from India, brought to life by 200 indigenous artisans from the Tamil Nadu Biosphere Reserve.
“We migrate across the country to show that coexistence between humans and wildlife isn’t just possible but exciting,” said Aubrey Baker, manager of the exhibit.
The herd’s journey has already taken them through New York and Rhode Island.
The sculptures are made from lantana camara, an invasive reed that has overrun 40% of Asian elephant habitats.
“What’s happening is that [lantana camara] is growing in place of the vegetation elephants eat,” Baker explained. “This forces them into human territories, creating conflict and are being killed because of it.”
The exhibit is organized by Elephant Family USA, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Asian elephants.
“You don’t need to get super expensive tickets or VIP experiences” said Alex Leshansky, a local art director. “Its about being here and enjoying the art and experiencing it in person.”
The elephants will remain in Miami Beach until Dec. 8, offering residents and visitors a chance to connect with art, nature and conservation.
Baker sees the exhibit as a “love letter to the herd” and a testament to the bond between the artisans and the elephants.
