A very special herd of elephants has just taken up residence in California — culminating an extraordinary journey that began in India and stretched 5,000 miles across the United States.

The Great Elephant Migration is a travelling art installation and fundraiser consisting of 100 elephant sculptures. As they make their migratory journey across the United States, each elephant in this special herd supports NGOs like Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in the process. The sculptures themselves tell a story of sustainability, crafted from lantana camara, an invasive species given new purpose. Amongst the herd are three African elephants created in honour of three members of our orphan herd: matriarch Edie, ex-orphan Chaimu, and little Korbessa, one of the smallest orphans currently in our care.

To mark the final chapter of their journey, the herd has been wrapped in a very special collection of blankets — each one handcrafted by renowned fashion houses and Indigenous master weavers. Life imitates art, and to see Korbessa (the sculpture) swaddled in her little blanket reminds us of Korbessa (the elephant) as a new rescue, swaddled tight in her colourful blanket for comfort and warmth during those crucial early days of recovery.

Now these extraordinary blankets are being auctioned to further support human-wildlife coexistence efforts, including our conservation work at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust! Curated by leading Indian designer Vikram Goyal and handcrafted by extraordinarily talented artisans, each blanket is part of a greater story — a symbol of a more harmonious future between humans and our wild neighbours.

The auction is live on Artsy until August 1, 2025 — place your bids today!