Luxembourg's Elephant Parade goes under the hammer

Since Luxembourg's Elephant Parade took to the capital's streets last summer, it has brought colour and curiosity, with the open-air exhibition proving a big hit with the public.

Now, fans will have a chance to take a piece of the exhibition home when the 95 lovingly decorated statues go up for auction to raise funds for The Asian Elephant Foundation.

The Elephant Parade exhibition, which began in July, will run until October 18 after which the elephant sculpture will be cleaned up ready for auction at a charity gala at the Geesseknäppchen Forum , 40, Boulevard Pierre Dupong Luxembourg City. A second auction will be held on October 26 in Trier BOBINET Quartier, 11, Im Speyer, in which the Trier elephants will be auctioned off.

During the two evenings, bidders can register from 7pm and the auction will start at around 9pm after a gala dinner.

Tickets can be ordered online for 130 euros per person.

The 95 elephant statues were decorated by regional artists including musician Ray Garvey, designer Jette Joop , comedian Atze Schröder and celebrity chef Léa Linster.

They form part of a global Elephant Parade project, where similar exhibitions have been held in major cities to raise funds for and awareness about the plight of endangered Asian elephants.

To register for the auction, please email myriam@theasianelephantfoundation.org or call 621 321 381. Alternatively, visit www.elephantauction.de