In the streets of Dakar, Senegal, life-sized animal sculptures are turning heads—and sparking conversations. This is the goal of The Herds, a traveling public art project designed to generate deep emotional responses to the global climate crisis.

Launched by an artist collective from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the initiative plans to travel through about ten countries across Africa and Europe—including Nigeria, Morocco, France, and Norway—within the span of four months.

At its core, The Herds seeks to raise awareness of endangered wildlife and show how climate change disrupts animal migration patterns. The current display features 20 full-scale puppet sculptures, including a wildebeest, gorilla, giraffes, and zebras—all made from recycled materials.

As the journey progresses over more than 20,000 kilometers, the collective plans to add species native to each country they visit, such as green monkeys in Nigeria, reindeer in Norway, and red deer in other European regions.

By growing the herd along the way, the project emphasizes environmental conservation and the interconnectedness between climate, biodiversity, and human rights. International studies have shown that droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves are increasingly forcing people to migrate, often across borders, leading to rising human rights concerns.

The Herds invites communities across continents to reflect on these issues—and take action before more is lost.

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