The Great Elephant Migration | Livermore
100 Magnificent Indian Elephants are migrating across the U.S. to share their story with the world.
The Great Elephant Migration is a public art exhibition of life-size Indian elephants, a global fundraising adventure to amplify Indigenous knowledge and inspire the human race to share space. Each elephant is modeled on a real animal in southern India’s Nilgiri Hills. Around 200 Indigenous artisans of the Coexistence Collective built them by hand from lantana camara, an invasive weed that crowds elephants out of the forests they depend on.
Harvesting the weed used to make the sculptures contributes to restoring the habitat. Special exhibits and sales of the sculptures help fund the mission. Across the tour, proceeds support more than 20 conservation groups working on human and wildlife coexistence. Thirty of these elephants will travel to Downtown Livermore this Fall, continuing their journey to share their story with the world.
The Great Elephant Migration is more than a public art exhibition, it is a circular conservation model that transforms an invasive weed into opportunity. Every elephant is handcrafted in South India by Indigenous artisans, creating sustainable livelihoods, restoring forests and funding conservation.
This unforgettable experience is only possible through the generosity of our community. Your tax-deductible donation will help bring the Elephant installation to Livermore and support the educational programming, community events, and visitor experiences that make this exhibition so impactful.
The Elephants arrive in Livermore on October 10, 2026, and will remain on display through the end of December.
Livermore Valley Arts is seeking volunteer docents to welcome visitors and share the inspiring story of human and wildlife coexistence behind this extraordinary public art installation. Docents will help engage guests, answer questions, and bring the exhibition’s powerful message to life for our community.
This unforgettable experience is only possible through the generosity of our community. Your tax-deductible donation will help bring the Elephant installation to Livermore and support the educational programming, community events, and visitor experiences that make this exhibition so impactful.
Get Involved
Become a Volunteer Docent
Help welcome visitors and share the elephants’ inspiring message of coexistence.
Make a Donation
Support this extraordinary exhibition and help bring the Elephants to Livermore. Every gift—large or small—helps make this community experience possible.
Creating India's Largest Sustainable Indigenous Enterprise
For thousands of years, Indigenous communities have been the guardians of nature. Although they make up just 6% of the world’s population, Indigenous peoples protect around 80% of the planet’s remaining biodiversity. The Great Elephant Migration celebrates this extraordinary stewardship by showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of India’s Indigenous communities on the world stage. Today, the project provides meaningful employment, financial stability, status and pride to members of the Soligas, Bettakurumbas, Kattunayakan, and Paniyas tribes, communities that have lived alongside wild elephants for generations.
Impact to date:
• Over $1.5 million collectively earned through the creation of sculptures for exhibitions in USA
• Employment created for 300+ Indigenous artisans, with workshops operating across 15+ villages.
• Long-term ambition to create up to 1,000 Indigenous jobs by 2030, building India’s largest sustainable
Indigenous enterprise.
Restoring India's Forests
Every elephant is woven from Lantana camara, one of the world’s most destructive invasive plant species.
Lantana has invaded an estimated 300,000 km2 of India’s Protected Areas, reducing habitat for elephants, tigers and
countless other native species. By harvesting lantana and transforming it into art, the project removes this invasive
weed while creating income for local communities.
