Elephant sculptures all over New York send a message on co-habitation between man and animal

One hundred wooden-looking elephants have been distributed throughout a New York City neighborhood to promote positive cohabitation between man and animal, according to the installation organizer. The elephants are both on exhibit and being sold for $8,000 to $22,000, depending on their size. "The Great Elephant Migration" features artisan elephant sculptures crafted by nearly 200 indigenous artists from throughout southern India. Based on actual individual Indian elephants, they range in size from baby to adult and can be touched by spectators. They all have an ID nameplate. "Each of the elephants is based on a real wild elephant that lives in the coffee plantations of South India," said installation organizer, Tarsh Thekaekara. "They're traveling around the world to inspire people to live better with all forms of nature around them." Thekaekara went on to say that the exhibit can serve as a "flagship" for supportive co-living among multiple species. Passersby in the trendy New York neighborhood of the Meatpacking district where the elephants are scattered agreed. "We're in the concrete jungle," said New York City student, Juan Garcia. The elephants "remind you that there's a lot of living beings… that should matter to us." Already, some half a million dollars in sales has been generated from the sales, according to the Meatpacking District Management Association. The proceeds are going to non-governmental organizations dedicated to conservation work. The elephants themselves appear to be made from a straw, but are culled together from an indigenous invasive weed called Lantana. And they are providing visitors with a moment of relief. "As I am getting to know the city, and the fact that there exists something a bit natural within the city gives me peace," said Patricia Arevalo, a Salvadoran currently living in Germany and on a visit to New York. The elephants will remain in New York's Meatpacking district until October 20. - Report from Reuters For more ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmgUHWUpi2ioSp4xAP1SmAaf For more latest news and analysis from ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmg4pcvfM9a96rbUcLD_0P_U For more News Digital News Raw Cuts, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmi83yKJH8Dv0p_3D4cyZKzV Subscribe to the ABS-CBN News channel! - http://bit.ly/TheABSCBNNews Watch the full episodes of TV Patrol on iWantTFC: http://bit.ly/TVPatrol-iWantTFC Visit our website at http://news.abs-cbn.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS Twitter: https://twitter.com/abscbnnews #Exclusive #LatestNews #ABSCBNNews