Zoo seeks to display 30,000 origami elephants

DUNSTABLE, England, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A British zoo is asking members of the public to help gather 30,000 origami elephants to display as part of its Elephant Appreciation Weekend.

The Zoological Society of London Whipsnade Zoo is asking patrons to create the folded-paper elephants using a guide on the facility's website and either deliver them in person or mail them to the zoo in time to be displayed Sept. 20-21 as part of the Elephantastic Elephant Appreciation Weekend.

Whipsnade Zoo is seeking 30,000 origami elephants to display as part of its Elephantastic Elephant Appreciation Weekend. (ZSL Whipsnade Zoo)

The zoo said it hopes to gather 30,000 of the origami elephants, one to represent each Asian elephant left living in the wild.

The weekend will also include behind-the-scenes tours of the elephant barn and the opportunities for visitors to have their picture taken with elephants.

The zoo said it will be collecting donations during the weekend to support elephant conservation and research projects.