Art project vandalised in Rotterdam 04/09/2007 00:00

4 September 2007

ROTTERDAM (ANP) – One of some 30 elephant sculptures embellishing the centre of Rotterdam was badly vandalised late Sunday night. As yet unidentified persons pulled the painted elephant from its pedestal causing the legs to break. Holes were also made in the elephant’s body.

“We assume that they have been dancing and jumping on the elephant,” said Mike Spits, the person who took the initiative for the art project on Monday.

The two-metre tall ‘animal’ was placed close to the post office on the Coolsingel. The damage is considerable and Spits will look at the cost of having it repaired.
The sculpture is part of Rotterdam Elephant Parade, the open air exhibition that opened on Saturday.

“The elephant sculptures are not insured. That is impossible. We want to raise as much money for the Asian elephants threatened with extinction,” Spits said.  The sculptures will be auctioned on 17 November and the proceeds will go to the world’s first elephant hospital in Thailand and elephant project initiated by Rotterdam zoo Blijdorp in India.

Spits received expressions of support all day long on Monday. Shop owners and residents have embraced the elephants, according to Spits. Some people even want to establish a kind of ‘neighbourhood watch for the threatened elephants in Rotterdam’. Spits is seriously considering this initiative.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2007]

Subject: Dutch news