Over the summer, 15 life-size Gorilla sculptures, designed by internationally recognised artists and well-known personalities, and curated by Chris Westbrook from Westbrook Gallery, formed the Tusk Gorilla Trail in and around Covent Garden, London.
The sculptureswere auctioned on the 20th November, and raised over £130,000 in aid of Tusk’s projects protecting gorillas and other vulnerable species across Africa.
Curator Chris Westbrook, from Westbrook Gallery, brought together an array of talented artists from the world of art, design, film, photography and comedy including a number of Tusk ambassadors, to release a band of individually designed gorillas across the Covent Garden and Seven Dials estates.
Internationally recognised art and showbiz talent that designed gorillas included TheRolling Stones guitarist and Tusk ambassador Ronnie Wood and his wife, producer Sally Wood; English actor and comedian John Cleese and wife, designer Jen Cleese; British artist Chila Kumari Burman; British photographer Rankin; Printmaker Adam Dant; Tusk ambassadors actress Jemma Powell and husband musician Jack Savoretti; Restaurant Petersham Nurseries by artist Hayden Kays; former army helicopter pilot, wildlife artist and Tusk ambassador Hannah Shergold as well as artists Barnaby Barford, Mr Jago, Gordon Cheung, Mauro Perucchetti and Nick Gentry.
The population of African gorillas remains critically endangered across both Western and Eastern species. Each sculpture highlights the beauty of gorillas, threats to their existence and the people and solutions working for their survival – raising awareness for conservation efforts across the African continent.
The 15 life-sized gorilla sculptures across the Covent Garden neighbourhood, could be found using our map.
The easy-to-use map, was available to download, making a fun and interactive experience for families and all to enjoy throughout the Summer. We still encourage visitors to make donations to Tusk to support our conservation goals across Africa through the website.
Did you know...?
Gorillas are known for beating their chests, but they do so with cupped hands to make the most sound. Adult males do it to assert their dominance, intimidate other males and attract females.
All gorillas are critically endangered and their numbers are falling, other than the mountain gorilla, whose numbers have increased to over 1,000 individuals thanks to conservation efforts.
While they can’t speak, gorillas make a variety of noises to communicate and express their emotions, from purrs, hoots and whimpers, to cries, grunts and barks. They use “belch vocalisations” to express contentment between individuals.
The increase in the mountain gorilla population has been a conservation success story thanks to high levels of protection of the gorillas and their habitat, and the gorillas’ value for tourism. Nevertheless, so few still remain that they remain critically endangered.
The Tusk Lion Trail has hit the streets of cities around the world on World Lion Day (10th August - 24 September 2021), celebrating the magnificence of lions and raising awareness of threats facing the iconic King of Beasts.
There are lots of fun and fantastic ways to get involved and raise much needed funds for Tusk and our work in Africa. We’re here to support you along the way…
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