Elephant Parade in London

Last summer my unhealthy habit was for the Plinth, the sixth plinth in Trafalgar Square that was transformed into a public performance space. This year it is elephants.

This weekend, painted elephants have been dotted round central London to raise the profile of the danger to the Asian elephant and to seek our support to saving them. I have ridden several Asian elephants on their home turf in the last 20 years and anything that might save the elephant is good by me.

As the Elephant Parade blurb says:

Elephant Parade is a conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant. Brought to you by www.elephantfamily.org, the event sees over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants located over central London this summer.

Each decorated by a different artist or celebrity, the elephants brighten and beautify the city, enhancing every park, street corner and building they grace. Running from May to July 2010, this is London’s biggest outdoor art event on record. With an estimated audience of 25 million, we aim to raise £2 million for the Asian elephant and benefit 20 UK conservation charities.

All of our elephants are for sale by auction and every bid you place is a bid for habitat. Mini elephants are available at Selfridges, 80 Regent St, 36 Carnaby St and Greenwich Central Market or at the online shop. Happy elephant spotting!

Go on, I dare you, seek out and photograph as many elephants as you can and then post them on your Facebook page or your blog, or tweet them. The more elephants the better. I will be hunting elephants with my camera from now on...