Bengalureans, if you’ve recently visited Lal Bagh or government buildings like Vidhana Soudha you’d have noticed a life-sized model of an elephant. Perhaps, you’ve even wondered what’s the reason behind the unusual appearance of the gentle giants across the city. Well, read on to know what’s the connection between elephants, Bengaluru and Lantana, an invasive weed.
Bengaluru Welcomes 100 Life-Sized Elephants Made Of Lantana, An Invasive Weed
Don’t miss the grand spectacle of 100 lantana elephants marching through Bengaluru's iconic gardens. With a trunk full of workshops and activities, there is something for everyone.
For Updates on the event check out https://t.co/J0qk0E1WzG pic.twitter.com/3XHDdXoD5n
— Coexistence Consortium (@CoexConsortium) December 22, 2023
According to a report by The Indian Express, Bengaluru has welcomed 100 majestic elephants in iconic spots of the city. Before you gasp in shock, these aren’t real elephants but rather 100 life-sized models of the animal made out of 150 tonnes of Lantana, an invasive weed. The 100 Lantana elephants are part of the month-long exhibition in Bengaluru called ‘Coexistence: The Great Elephant Migration’.
A group of wildlife conservationists and environmentalists part of the collective Coexistence Consortium launched this exhibition in Bengaluru. Thsi exhibition focuses on man-animal conflict. As part of this exhibition, the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden has 60 elephants made out of Lantana. This is an invasive weed that prevents the growth of indigenous vegetation. With a telos to raise awareness about the harmful effects of Lantana on Karnataka’s forest ecosystem, this exhibition is not just limited to Lal Bagh.
Also Read: Odisha Installs 10,000 Volt Hanging Solar Fence To Protect Elephants; Here’s How It Works
You Can Spot These Exhibits At Lal Bagh, Majestic Metro Station & Vidhan Soudha
Join the Great Elephant Migration in Bengaluru! From Feb 3 – Mar 3, 2024, 100 lantana elephants will grace Lalbagh and traverse tech parks, offices, metro stations, and green spaces. Inauguration: Feb 3, 10 AM at Lalbagh.
To know more got to: https://t.co/k3iW4VG9c8 pic.twitter.com/iIBkfg5Ubu— Coexistence Consortium (@CoexConsortium) February 2, 2024
Bengalureans can witness these fascinating life-sized Lantana elephants across iconic spots in the city like Vidhana Soudha, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station in Majestic, tech parks, colleges, lakes and other green spaces. This exhibition will be held throughout February with the elephants bidding goodbye to the concrete jungle of Bengaluru and heading back to the lush green forests on March 3. In other words, the exhibition comes to an end on March 3.
Apart from the 100 life-sized elephant replicas, this initiative also includes street plays and citizens’ science contests. It also includes 50 discussions on environment-related topics, nature trails, storytelling and other activities. Most importantly, this campaign will also have a round-table conference with members of the tribal community, forest department officials, scientists and environmentalists. The conference focuses on ways to remove hectares of Lantana in Karnataka’s forests.
Meanwhile, Bengalureans, do let us know if you’ve spotted any of these Lantana elephants in your city yet.
Cover Image Courtesy: @CoexConsortium/ X
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First Published: February 05, 2024 2:08 PM