Camilla Parker-Bowles Praises Coexistence Charity Campaign as It Raises More Than $5 Million
For the past few weeks, visitors walking through parts of central London may have found themselves stopped in their tracks by herds of life-sized elephant sculptures. From the 40 set up across the Mall in May, to those grazing in Green Park throughout June and July, the majestic creatures have become a regular feature of the capital’s landscape.
Their presence, however, was not purely decorative but designed to spread the message about successful coexistence and encourage people to think how we can all better coexist with the animals in our habitats. The CoExistence campaign is being run by conservation charity Elephant Family, which was founded by the Duchess of Cornwall’s late brother Mark Shand. And as the sculptures depart central London, they do so having raised approximately £4 million ($5.5 million) for conservation efforts.
"In 2002, my beloved brother, Mark, helped create the charity Elephant Family, to protect Asia’s magnificent wildlife," Camilla said. "Over the past few weeks, Londoners have had the rare opportunity to see some of that wildlife (albeit in static form!) on the Mall, in Green Park, in St James’s Park and in Berkeley Square. These magnificent, life-sized elephants have roamed – with a little help – from the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India, to the Cotswolds, to the heart of the city to raise awareness of the vital importance of healthy coexistence between humans and animals. They are a timely reminder to us all to live well with Nature, wherever we may be."
The campaign was launched on May 15 on the Mall and attended by charity supporters including Joanna Lumley. The moving art exhibition saw 100 of the beautifully crafted elephants, made using lantana wood by communities in Indian state Tamil Nadu, appear in locations including Chelsea, St James’s Park and Berkeley Square. In June, Princess Eugenie took baby son August to see the sculptures in Green Park. And earlier this month Prince Charles and Camilla hosted a masked ball at Clarence House with some of the sculptures outside.
Funds are raised through donations and the sale of elephant sculptures which cost £6,000 to £30,000 each. Those who have purchased elephants to support the campaign include philanthropist Dame Vivien Duffield and Lady Annabel Goldsmith, after whom the famous Annabel’s nightclub was named.
The exhibition is due to eventually make its way to the US in a journey that will last three years and cover more than 13,000 miles.
The Elephant Family charity says that projects made possible by the CoExistence campaign 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.”
Find out more about the campaign here https://coexistence.org/
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