ONE MORE LOCATION DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND...
Riverside Plaza
1 Feb to 15 Feb
The Elephant Parade Bangkok Instagram competition applies only to the three original locations.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is bringing the world’s largest art exhibition - the world famous Elephant Parade® to Bangkok. The exhibition will see a herd of eighty-eight 1.5 metre brightly coloured elephants – which have been decorated and hand painted by artists and celebrities - to be exhibited throughout the city and then auctioned off with the proceeds going to The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation.
The event was created after founder Marc Spits and his son Mike visited the Friends of the Asian Elephant hospital in Thailand which treats sick and injured elephants. There they saw Mosha, a baby elephant who lost her foot when only seven months old and 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 wearing her prosthetic leg is always featured in each Elephant Parade exposition.
Since the Parade started in 2006 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. Thailand’s talented artists and celebrities have been busy designing their elephants to paint a brighter future for the county’s national animal to be on display in iconic locations in Bangkok from December 2015.
Siam Paragon
December 1st–December 18th
991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, 10330
Asiatique
December 20th–January 17th
2194 Charoenkrung Road, Wat Prayakrai District, Bangkor Laem, Bangkok 10120
Lumpini Park
January 18th–January 27th
Rama IV Road, Pathumwan
The elephants are so excited to be on the move to Asiatique on the riverfront from December 20th - January 11th!! Some of the elephants don't like to be out in the open so a handful of the herd will be across the river at Anantara Riverside where you can also check out the largest Elephant Parade shop to by miniatures of the elephants.
Nirut Sirichanya
Actor
“Elephants need our protection. Man kills them because of money; they kill them for the ivory and then sell it. We call it by such a beautiful name, ‘ivory’ but it’s just bone, what right do we have to kill them for a simple bone. Man also kills elephants because they need land to grow crops. The property is not theirs, it belongs to the Forestry Department and the elephant also is not theirs, so we have no right to kill them because of land issues. My design is about the truth. We need to protect these magnificent creatures. That’s why I have painted the symbol of protection on my elephant. The symbol means that elephants want to live in harmony with man and pray for the day that they won't harm them and that they will one day have a better life.”
Cindy Bishop
Miss Thailand World, Model, Actress
“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. 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.”
Pae Arak
Actor
“Elephants have long played an integral part in Thai history and life, yet there are issues to be addressed in order to protect them. I would like to encourage everyone to discourage any activity that threatens their welfare or habitat. Through our combined efforts, we can look forward to a future where elephants are given the respect and care they deserve as the proud symbol of Thailand.”
Tony Jaa
Actor, Martial Artist
“In my life, I have spent a lot of quality time with elephants. I grew up in a mahout family and started my movie career with an elephant as a co-star. So I want to thank all the people and organizations who take the time and resources to ensure the safety of these intelligent creatures in Thailand and around the world.”
William E. Heinecke
Chairman and CEO of Minor International
“As a citizen of Thailand, I have always been passionate about helping the country’s national animal and as a result I founded The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in 2006, in order to help improve the plight of Thailand’s elephants. It has since been diversified to include welfare projects that incorporate broader philanthropic, cultural and direct conservation objectives.To date, we’ve rescued over 40 elephants from Thailand’s city streets and 20 of those are now living in a jungle environment on the grounds next to Anantara Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai with their entire mahout family. 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.”
In February 2016 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 a range of sustainable programs that benefit the elephants of Thailand.
The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), was set up in 2006 to improve the plight of Thailand's elephants, and has since been diversified to include welfare projects that incorporate broader philanthropic and cultu ral objectives with unprecedented success.
Currently 25 elephants that have been rescued from Thailand's city streets, accompanied by their entire mahout family, are provided with a place to rest and grow. English lessons are arranged for the mahouts and their wives, education is made available for their children and a silk worm business provides the wives with full time employment.
In addition to performing street rescues, the GTAEF cooperates with the Thai government and other organisations in projects including supporting research and clinics using elephants in therapy sessions for children living with autism; helping equip the first elephant hospital in Krabi in the southern part of Thailand, donating a gantry to help lame elephants stand and a purpose built elephant ambulance to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC), just to name a few.
To honour the Friends of the Asian Elephant's Hospital in Lampang, where the elephant who inspired Elephant Parade - Mosha resides, Elephant Parade Bangkok along with an annual donation from Elephant Parade® will also donate funds from the auction of four handpicked elephants to ensure that Mosha continues to receive the best possible treatment and a newly fitted leg every year.
Elephant Parade Bangkok 2015 also supports the following charities to 'Paint A Brighter Future' to both wild and domesticated elephants throughout Thailand and beyond.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas currently boasts 34 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, the UAE, Mozambique, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Zambia offering peerless, unobtrusive service, spa pampering and a range of adventure activities associated with each location.
Elephant Parade® is a social enterprise and runs the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues. Created by artists and celebrities, each Elephant Parade statue is a unique art piece. The life-size, baby elephant statues are exhibited in international cities and raise awareness for the need of elephant conservation. Limited edition, handcrafted replicas and a select range of products are created from the exhibition elephants. 20% of Elephant Parade net profits are donated to elephant welfare and conservation projects.
Click to download press releases and photos
For more information on the parade and sponsorship Please click here !
