On Wednesday, former British prime minister Boris Johnson was sixty years old. His wife gave him a unique present: three life-size wooden elephants that he could use to help an Indian charitable project. Images of the herd being offloaded and then setting up shop on the family’s Oxfordshire property, under the watchful eye of their little son Wilfred, were shared by Carrie Johnson on Instagram.
The Great Elephant Migration is a charitable organization that promotes the peaceful coexistence of humans and animals. It earns money for biodiversity conservation programs by selling wooden elephants, which start at approximately USD 8,500. “A very special 60th birthday present, supporting a wonderful charity @greatelephantmigration,” Carrie Johnson’s Instagram post reads.
One of the most invasive weeds in the world, Lantana camara, is used to make the elephants, according to the charity’s website. This toxic shrub spreads quickly and has taken over 300,000 square kilometers of India’s Protected Areas. It drives animals from their forest habitats into cities, increasing conflict between humans and nature.
“The use of lantana to create the elephants helps remove the weed from protected areas, leaving wildlife more space to roam,” the charity explains. “The beautiful lantana elephants come in four sizes and make themselves at home in all sorts of locations, including gardens, business frontages, estates, and schools," it said. “Each elephant has been meticulously cr.