Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India-made life-sized model elephants on display in London

India-made life-sized model elephants on display in London

LIFE-SIZED model of a herd of about 125 elephants is on display in central London to trumpet the idea that humans and wild animals can share space in this crowded world. The sculptures are a part of the CoExistence campaign and are seen in The Mall in London from Saturday (15).

The campaign is organized by the conservation group Elephant Family who brought the models to London for the display. The models are the work of indigenous people who live alongside real beasts in southern India's Nilgiri Hills.


The idea behind the campaign is to highlight the need for coexistence with wild animals. During the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, human activity slowed down which in turn have helped some threatened species to recover, says the campaign.

"Saving them is really about saving ourselves," Ruth Ganesh, Elephant Family's principal trustee said, adding that it's a matter of mutual survival.

Following the parade in The Mall, the model elephants will be displayed in London parks and be on sale for 30,000 pounds ($42,000) each to raise funds which will be used for conservation activities, such as planting crops for elephants to eat on the edges of farmland to distract them from food grown for humans.

Some of the model elephants will be on display at London's Sladmore Contemporary gallery as part of an exhibition on coexistence to be held in June and July, featuring artist George Butler. 

The documentary maker, who is until now known for his work on war zones such as Iraq and Syria through his illustrations, has shifted his focus on the conflict between man and nature during the lockdown. His work will include depictions of model elephants next to some famous London landmarks.

For the display, Elephant Family is also working with WildEast, a charity trying to return English farmland to its wild state to help reverse declines in bird populations. To emphasize the declining bird population, sculptors have made birds stand on some of the elephants.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less