A herd of 100 life-size elephant sculptures marches through Beverly Gardens Park to raise awareness for wildlife coexistence.
High Desert, California (High Desert News Online) – Many have seen the trucks with elephants on the I-15 freeway. The Great Elephant Migration art installation has marched into Beverly Hills, bringing 100 magnificent, life-sized elephant sculptures to four blocks of Beverly Gardens Park along Santa Monica Boulevard. This striking exhibit, crafted by Indigenous artisans from Southern India, runs from July 1 to August 1 and invites residents and visitors alike to explore the intersection of art, conservation, and community.
A Spectacular Journey Culminates in Beverly Hills
The Great Elephant Migration began its cross-country trek in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 2024 before stopping in New York City, Miami Beach, Houston, Jackson Hole, and Browning, Montana. Now, after traveling more than 5,000 miles, it finds its final home along Santa Monica Boulevard between Wilshire and Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills. Organizers Ruth Ganesh and Fiona Humphrey say they chose Beverly Hills to spotlight local wildlife corridors like the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing and to engage a new audience with conservation messages.
Each sculpture is anatomically accurate, modeled on elephants living in India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and handcrafted by Indigenous artisans using invasive lantana camara. The exhibition is free to the public during park hours—7 a.m. to 10 p.m.—from July 1 through August 1, 2025. Visitors are encouraged to snap photos, tag @greatelephantmigration, and share their experience on social media.
Art, Culture, and Conservation Intersect
The Great Elephant Migration Beverly Hills merges art and activism. As the sun filters through palm fronds, the 100 imposing figures—calves, adolescents, matriarchs, and tuskers—stand as reminders of the world’s largest land mammal. Curated by The Real Elephant Collective in collaboration with Elephant Family USA and FOUR PAWS, the installation showcases how beauty and scale can speak louder than words.
“The blankets draped on our elephants transform sculpture into ritual,” said designer Vikram Goyal, referring to the Wrapped in History collaboration where each sculpture wears a blanket inspired by South Asian, Indigenous North American, and global textile traditions. Following a June 27 blanket-wrapping ceremony at The Wallis, the blankets will be auctioned online, with proceeds supporting wildlife crossings, anti-poaching patrols, and habitat restoration projects worldwide.
What to Know Before You Go
- Location & Hours: Beverly Gardens Park, Santa Monica Boulevard between Wilshire & Doheny; daily from 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Parking & Access: Metered parking along Park Way; public restrooms at Canon Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard; ADA-compliant paths throughout the park.
- Duration & Admission: July 1–August 1, 2025; free entry.
- Materials: Steel rebar frames wrapped in dried lantana camara, an invasive plant in India, transformed into art.
- Interactive Elements: QR codes at each sculpture link to stories of individual elephants, fundraising pages, and conservation resources.
Community Reaction in the High Desert
Although the exhibit is in Beverly Hills, it has resonated through Southern California, including the High Desert region. As the herd of pachyderms traveled down I-15, gave many a first hand change to see these gorgeous carvings. Jenn Thornton saw them in UT the day before.
Social media buzz in the High Desert highlights how simple, creative messages can foster a sense of shared responsibility for land and wildlife from the mountains to the desert floor.
Lasting Impact on Wildlife and Community
The Great Elephant Migration Beverly Hills installation is more than temporary art—it’s a call to action. By repurposing lantana camara, the project underscores invasive species management, while raising funds for wildlife projects across continents. Local organizers hope the exhibit will inspire permanent conservation measures, from enhanced wildlife crossings in the San Andreas Fault region to community-led habitat restoration in desert oases.
As the herd departs on August 1, the legacy of the installation will live on through programs funded by blanket auctions, educational partnerships across Southern California, and the thousands of visitors touched by the sight of life-size elephants amid palm-lined walkways.
