Rhode Island Bids Farewell to Wooden Elephant Herd on Nationwide Migration

If you saw a herd of elephants on I-95 South leaving Rhode Island this week, there’s a good reason.

On Tuesday, September 3, 100 life-sized wooden elephants were carefully strapped to flatbed trucks and escorted off the lawn of Rough Point Museum in Newport, bound for New York City.

This impressive display was part of The Great Elephant Migration, a major art exhibition curated by Dodie Kazanjian in partnership with Art & Newport. The event, which debuted on June 29, was a highlight of Newport's summer, attracting locals and tourists alike to marvel at the intricate waterfront sculptures.

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The project, created by the United Kingdom-based nonprofit Elephant Family, aims to raise awareness about the need for coexistence between humans and elephants in India. Each elephant was hand-crafted by the Coexistence Collective, a group of indigenous Indian artisans from four tribes: Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga.

The sculptures were made with Lantana Camara, an invasive weed threatening India’s protected areas.

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As the elephants make their way to New York for exhibitions in September and October, their journey won’t end there. The herd will continue its migration across America, with stops in Miami Beach in December, Yellowstone National Park in May and June of 2025, and a final stop in Los Angeles.

Beyond their beauty, these sculptures served a purpose in Newport, helping to raise funds for Save the Bay, a Rhode Island nonprofit dedicated to protecting the local coastline. Ten versions of the sculptures were available for purchase at $10,000 each, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Save the Bay.

As the wooden herd leaves Newport, their journey across the country will continue to inspire and raise awareness, reminding us all of the importance of preserving the delicate balance between humans and wildlife.