Elephants in Green Park: The CoExistence Herd of 2021

For six weeks in summer 2021, more than 100 life-size elephants stood on the grass in Green Park, St James's Park and Berkeley Square. Entry was free, and nobody needed a ticket.

This page is a record of the Elephants in Green Park: what they were made of, who made them, where they stood in London and where they went next. The London showing ended on 23 July 2021, so it is not a visiting guide.

What Were the Elephants in Green Park?

They were the CoExistence herd, a touring art project run by the conservation charity Elephant Family together with The Real Elephant Collective. Elephant Family was founded by Mark Shand, brother of Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess were its joint royal presidents.

The aim was to show, with a herd you could walk through, how people and wild elephants share land in India. The organisers called the tour a 13,000-mile migration around the world.

In the park the animals stood in loose groups on open grass, with the calves at the front and the larger elephants behind. In bright sun the woven bodies looked brown and gold against the green.

What Were the Elephants Made Of?

Each elephant was built from lantana, a plant whose full name is Lantana camara. It is an invasive weed that has spread across India's forests and crowds out the plants that wild elephants and other animals feed on.

Cutting lantana clears land for wildlife and gives the makers an income. The cut stems are worked by hand into the animals' bodies, which is why the surface looks like woven wood.

Who Made the Elephants?

Around 200 artisans from Indigenous communities in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu made the herd. The communities include the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga, and many of the makers live beside wild elephants.

NPR reported in 2024 that each sculpture is modelled on a real animal that its makers know. Each one differs from the next.

Where and When Did the Herd Stand in London?

Part of the herd stood in Chelsea first, from 17 May to 6 June 2021, along King's Road, Duke of York Square, Pavilion Road and Sloane Street. From 14 June to 23 July it stood in Green Park, St James's Park and Berkeley Square.

Green Park sits between Mayfair and St James's. My guides to Christmas in Mayfair and Christmas in St James's cover the streets around it, and the Buckingham Palace Gardens are a few minutes' walk away. The Chelsea showing is covered by my Chelsea walk.

Why Were the Elephants Sold?

Elephant Family sold the sculptures to raise money for conservation in South Asia, aimed at reducing conflict between people and wildlife and protecting forests. In 2021 a calf started at £6,000.

On 14 July 2021 the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a fundraiser at Lancaster House, hosted by Elephant Family and the British Asian Trust. ITV reported that 110 of 123 sculptures had been sold by then, with the last 13 going to auction that evening.

Where Did the Elephants Go After London?

Every sale sent an elephant to a new home, so the London herd did not stay together. The project itself kept travelling. NPR reported in July 2024 that the sculptures had been shown in London and India before a herd of 100 reached the United States, starting in Newport, Rhode Island.

That tour was planned to go on to New York, Miami, Montana and Los Angeles, with sales supporting 22 conservation groups. The CoExistence website lists showings and takes donations.

The Elephants in Green Park: Practical Notes

📍 Where: Green Park, St James's Park and Berkeley Square, London. Chelsea earlier, along King's Road and Sloane Street.

📅 Open days: 14 June to 23 July 2021 in the royal parks and Berkeley Square. 17 May to 6 June 2021 in Chelsea.

🎫 Admission: Free.

🚇 Getting there: Green Park, on the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines, was the nearest station to the park. St James's Park, on the District and Circle lines, was nearest to the herd's other spot.

🗺️ Nearby: Buckingham Palace, Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, and Berkeley Square.

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All photos were taken by Ina/WithinLondon, unless stated otherwise.