‘The Herds’: 20,000 kilometers of giant puppets pushing for climate action
Participants in the public art project "The Herds" will journey 20,000 kilometers from Africa to Europe with life-sized puppet animals to raise awareness about migration driven by climate change. (Photo via AA Photo)
What if you encountered a 3.5-meter (9.8 feet)-high elephant or a towering giraffe on your city’s streets? Massive puppets crafted from recycled materials are now moving slowly through urban landscapes, each step designed to draw attention to the urgent climate crisis.
This striking display is part of ‘The Herds,’ an initiative that blends art and activism to create an unforgettable impact. The project echoes previous efforts like Little Amal, the 3.5-meter puppet representing a nine-year-old Syrian refugee girl. Designed by the South Africa-based Handspring Puppet Company, Little Amal was operated by four puppeteers and symbolized children displaced and separated from their families.
In 2021, Little Amal began a journey from Gaziantep, Türkiye, traveling across Europe to the United Kingdom, bringing global attention to the struggles faced by refugees.
This powerful project was created by The Walk Productions, the team now also supporting ‘The Herds.’
A 20,000 km call to action
The Herds isn’t just a local art installation; it’s a global movement. Over the course of 2025, a herd of giant animal puppets will journey 20,000 kilometers from the Congo Basin in Africa to the Arctic Circle in the North.
These majestic, handcrafted creatures will visit some of the world’s most iconic cities, like Kinshasa, Madrid, London, Paris, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, each stop amplifying the message: the climate crisis is here, and we need to act now.
The journey symbolizes the migration of species affected by the environment’s rapid deterioration.
The animals’ travels are an artistic representation of the habitats we’re losing due to deforestation, pollution, and climate-induced disasters. The final destination? The Arctic Circle, where the effects of climate change are felt most intensely and where the clock is ticking toward irreversible loss.
Empowering communities
The Herds project blends art with community engagement, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. Throughout its journey, local workshops will offer opportunities for participants of all ages to take part in the creation and performance of the puppets.
By involving communities directly, The Herds becomes more than just a traveling event, fostering local participation and creativity at each stop.
These performances are not just artistic events; they are conversations, discussions, and workshops where climate change is no longer an abstract idea but a personal challenge. As the puppets move through cities, they invite people to come together and ask, What can we do to help protect the planet?
Teaming up with global players
‘The Herds’ has garnered support from a number of renowned environmental organizations, such as the IUCN U.K.
Peatland Programme, WWF, Save the Elephants, and the Global Rewilding Alliance. These partnerships are truly going to help the project’s message.
In the U.K., over 44 cultural institutions are joining the movement, offering resources, workshops, and exhibitions that further educate the public on the reality of climate change.
These efforts encourage citizens to take part in real solutions while engaging with the artistic side of the climate crisis.
