Over the centuries London has often witnessed some strange sights on its streets, but up there with the weirdest and most unusual, must be the herd of Elephants that descended on the capital throughout mid-May to the 23rd July.
On the 14th May, a herd of 100 elephant sculptures took up residence in London’s Royal Parks to provide families the opportunity to take part in one of the country’s biggest ever outdoor exhibitions. 
A partnership between the “UK Wildlife Conservation” charity and “Elephant Family” and the “Real Elephant Collective” in India – brought a herd of 100 sculptured elephants to the ‘Smoke’ (always said ‘it’s a jungle out there) in mid-May and they roamed around here until 23rd July.
This environmental exhibition is part of the “Co-Existence-Campaign” – a project that was 5yrs in the making – and the purpose of the exhibition was to highlight how people and wildlife can live side-by-side together in a world as it is today – an environmental theme that has gained even more attention throughout the pandemic – as people tended to retreated from cities and the importance of wildlife came back into focus. 
These herds of life sized sculptures are incredible to look at, but are not just there for the publics viewing pleasure – they are also there to portray a key message that us humans need to find new ways of living alongside wildlife, as it continues to lose more and more space on our overcrowded planet.
A total of eight herds were distributed between Green Park, St James’s Park and Berkeley Square each carrying a “unique story of human-wildlife coexistence.” 
The project, supported by their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall – acts as a reminder of The Duchess’ late brother, Mark Shand, who co-founded Elephant Family.
Last Friday 23rd July was the last day the elephant herd was gathered all together in ‘Green Park’ – before being herded up for a ‘world tour’ – with the USA being the next stop after leaving London.
So – last Friday, under a sunny London sky – London Shoes set-off on safari to the wonderful Green Park, to track down the herds of these majestic animals on the plains of the London ‘jungle land’ – before they headed off into the sunset that evening.
A short and sweet Shoes blog, I know – but I’m very pleased that I went and did it, as I doubt whether I will witness anything similar in the future.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
____________________________________________________________
See below – the full gallery of photos taken to support this blog
Me – exiting at Green Park tube station – on the Jubilee Line (the silver one on a standard tube map). The station exit leads straight into the Park.
Me – at one of the entrances to Green Park – in search of London’s herd of elephants
One of the Green Park Elephant herds – trampling through the park.
The Elephant herd making its way through Green Park
One of the larger elephant of the herd making its way through Green Park
The Elephant herd making its way through Green Park
A junior elephant shouting in my ear’ole
2 words…..”Elephants arse” :-))
As part of the “Co-Existence-Campaign” project – ‘Story Boards’ were on display all around the elephant herd – highlight how people and wildlife can live side-by-side together in a world as it is today – an environmental theme that has gained even more attention throughout the pandemic – as people tended to retreated from cities and the importance of wildlife came back into focus.
The Elephant herd making its way through Green Park – and coming my way!!
The Elephant herd making its way through Green Park – and coming my way!!
The Elephant herd almost upon me
The Green Park Elephant herd – getting closer to me
The Elephant herd almost upon me
In the middle of the Green Park elephant herd
In the middle of the Green Park elephant herd
Me & a baby elephant – in the middle of the Green Park elephant herd
One of the larger elephant of the herd making its way through Green Park
A bird hitching a lift on one of the Green Park elephant herd.
Story boards were on display everywhere throughout Green Park to get the key message across that us humans need to find new ways of living alongside wildlife, as it continues to lose more and more space on our overcrowded planet.
One of the larger elephant of the herd making its way through Green Park
A Mummy elephant and its juvenile trampling through Green Park
Me – with one of the younger members of the herd in Green Park
A load of elephant arses !!
Me – with another of the younger members of the herd in Green Park
After I’d seen the ‘herd’ in Green Park – I just thought I’d check on Her Maj – to make sure everything was in order!! 🙂
Her Maj was clearly being well looked after :-))
On the way back home on the Jubilee Line from Green Park tube station-to Stratford mainline station – and being ‘loyal’ by wearing me London Underground Tube Map mask 🙂