‘Jungle City’ set to thrill visitors in an extravaganza of adventure,
art, conservation and fun
Clonakilty, West Cork, Monday 2nd July
2012.
From Monday July 2nd 2012 West Cork town Clonakilty will be
transformed into a jungle with the only exhibition of its kind in the world
‘Jungle City’. A collection of 30 life-sized, brightly painted animal sculptures
was todaypermanently installed in every nook and cranny of the West Cork town.
Visitors to Clonakilty are set for a wild and colourful jungle experience with
elements of adventure, art, conservation and fun.
Jungle City is a unique attraction brought to Clonakilty in
partnership with local charity Sustainable Clonakilty and conservation NGO
Elephant Family. A vibrant and popular destination, Clonakilty
has helped to raise many thousands of euros to save the disappearing habitat of
endangered Asian wildlife.
The West Cork town’s goal
is to be energy neutral by 2020.
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar visited
Clonakilty to unveil one of the sculptures. He said: “This is a great idea to
boost tourism in Clonakilty, and to encourage families to visit. The Jungle City
initiative is fun, it’s free and it’s colourful. People are always looking for
new ways to help the economy and boost tourism, and this is a truly innovative
approach. I hope that Jungle City gets people talking about Clonakilty, and
better still, persuades them to visit and find out more. I visited the town
shortly after the recent flooding. I was impressed by the determination of the
community and local businesses to get back to business, immediately after the
incident.”
A
‘safari trail’ through Clonakilty allows visitors to track the exotic wildlife
and follow pug marks (footprints!) in Jungle City. The exhibition features route
maps and talking animals via a downloadable app. Miniature versions of the
animals will be available for families to decorate in the Jungle City pop up
shop in thecentre of Clonakilty.
Mary
Powys, Jungle City comments: “We are very excited to launch Jungle City to
visitors from all around Ireland and abroad. The spectacular life-sized animal
sculptures have each been painted by international and West Cork artists. Jungle
City is a fun and vital campaign that will also raise awareness and funds for
the sculptures’ endangered counterparts.”
Piloted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, Clonakilty has
been chosen to represent Ireland as part of this global
concept.
The
journey to Jungle city began in 2008 when the people of Clonakilty and charity
Elephant Family worked together to save a vital habitat of the Asian Elephant in
Kerala, Southern India which connects two forests for the largest population of
Asian elephants on the planet. Together with local artists, The Survival Tour
waslaunched with the creation of 13 life-sized Asian elephant sculptures. The
herd toured Ireland and England raising awareness and funds. With the backing
of Clonakilty Chamber of Tourism, the tour raised half a million Euro for the
endangered Asian elephant.
Jungle City is the brain child of conservation charity ‘Elephant
Family’. Local charity partner, Sustainable Clonakilty has joined forces to
create awareness for sustainable living and what can be done in our own
neighbourhoods to save energy and help the planet thus protecting wildlife
habitats around the world.
Celebrity supporters of Jungle City:
Goldie Hawn: “Asian elephants captured my heart many years
ago. Anyone who loves elephants, and I do, will love Jungle City. It is notonly
the most beautiful, fun campaign; it also holds the key to saving thismajestic
species and many other animals, from extinction. I am a proud Patron of Elephant
Family. Their hearts are in the right place, doing the good work. I urge
everyone to support them by getting involved with Jungle City. What a magical
adventure with real purpose.”
Geri
Halliwell: “You
don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Jungle City wants to save our
beautiful animals from extinction, help us do that.”
Michael Palin: “Jungle City is a unique and vital initiative that not only highlights
the plight of the Asian elephant but other endangered species that share its
habitat. We must work together to save the world’s forests and the animals that
live in them. I urge you to support Elephant Family’s latest project.’’
The
entire community of Clonakilty is involved with the project; each animal has
been adopted by a local business. Local community groups, schools and artists
have been involved to decorate and install the new
residents.
In
2010 Clonakilty represented Ireland in Elephant Parade London www.elephantparadelondon.org .
For
more information please visit:
At the end...all that will matter is how deep you loved...how hard you laughed...how loud you sang...how much you danced.
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