On December 21st at Bangkok’s Anantara Riverside Resort a party was held in celebration of the opening of Elephant Parade® at Asiatique. Mike Spits, co-founder of Elephant Parade, was a special guest. Later in the evening the party moved on to one of the Anantara’s refurbished 100-year-old rice barges for a river cruise which ended at Asiatique to view the herd.
The first major Elephant Parade was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in 2007 and has since been exhibited throughout some of the world’s largest cities including London, Amsterdam, Milan and Hong Kong. Since the Parade started more than 800 artists have participated and over 1000 elephants have been created; each an original piece of art. Famous international supporters of Elephant Parade include; Sir Richard Branson, the Duchess of York, Evelyn de Rothschild, Goldie Hawn, Khloe Kardashian, Katy Perry, Tommy Hilfiger, Paul Smith, Joanna Lumley, Michael Palin, Ricky Gervais and Prince Henrik of Denmark.
The event was originally created after founder Marc Spits and his son Mike visited the Friends of the Asian Elephant hospital in Lampang, Thailand, which treats sick and injured elephants. There they saw Mosha, a baby elephant who lost her leg after stepping on a landmine when only seven months old. Mosha was the first elephant to receive a prosthetic limb. She is fitted with a new leg every year, and must then learn to walk all over again. Mosha is always featured in each Elephant Parade exposition and there is a special Thai themed painted prosthetic leg for the Bangkok Parade.
The Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has partnered with Elephant Parade® and Thailand’s top celebrities and artists to bring the world’s largest open air art exhibition, featuring 88 life-sized brightly decorated elephant statues, to town in honor of the 88th birthday of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The 1.5 metre brightly coloured elephants are being exhibited throughout key locations in the city. The herd first arrived at Siam Paragon on the 1st of December. Asiatique followed and then it was off to Lumpini Park, the largest and oldest park in the heart of the city where the elephants can be seen from the 15th to the 29th of January.
Thai artists from all walks of life have designed their elephants, each an original piece of art, to paint a brighter future for the county’s national animal. Famous Thai supporters of Elephant Parade Bangkok include the actors Nirut Sirichanya, Tony Jaa, Sirinya Bishop and Daweerit Chullasapya and singers Pae Arak, Kong Saharat and Pod Moderndog
“I am so excited and honoured to be chosen to be one of the artists for the Elephant Parade. What a wonderful way to get people talking and taking action in elephant conservation,” Actress and Elephant Parade Bangkok Ambassador, Sirinya Bishop said. “The elephant is our country’s national animal and symbol, but somehow this once-revered and noble creature is now forced to beg for food on the busy and dangerous streets of the capital. I truly hope that this magnificent colourful pachyderm parade will raise the awareness and inspire us all to take more concrete steps to ensure their survival and wellbeing.”
In February a selection of elephants from the parade will be auctioned off at a charity gala dinner at Anantara Siam Bangkok with the proceeds going to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation who in turn will select and fund a range of sustainable programs that benefit the elephants of Thailand including, Wildlife Alliance, Freeland, WildAid, Think Elephants and Thai Elephant Therapy Project.
William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, the parent company of Anantara, Hotels Resorts & Spas, commented, “As a company, we are always looking for like-minded partners who share our true passion in saving the Asian elephant and Elephant Parade has long been known for its elephant conservation efforts in Thailand, which is why we feel this partnership is the ideal fit. The more awareness that is raised on the plight of domestic and wild elephants in Thailand the better the chances we have for their survival. I can’t think of a better way to raise awareness than bringing the largest open air art exhibition in support of Asian Elephants to Bangkok.”