A spectacular ensemble of colourful elephants were yesterday displayed at the renowned Bronx Zoo in Manhattan (USA) as part of celebrations for GWR Day 2016 . 
 
The astonishing presentation of paper animals were made by participants from around the world were put together by the Wildlife Conservation Society to achieve the title for the Largest display of origami elephants
 
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In total, an impressive 78,564 origami elephants were sent to the Bronx Zoo from all 50 states in the US, along with 40 other countries around the world, and 45 AZA zoos. 
 
For the big day, each and every one of them were mounted and included in the record-setting display. 
 
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The exhibition was put together as a part of WCS’s 96 Elephants campaign, which correlates to the statistic that 96 elephants are killed each day for their ivory. 
 
To gather such a large amount, the paper elephants of all shapes and sizes, came from an incredibly diverse array of participants— including a 109 year old woman, students from a school of the deaf, as well as participants from Iran, Kazakhstan and Egypt.
 
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The WCS aims to spread awareness of long-term damage the ivory trade causes to a peaceful and endangered species.  
 
“96 Elephants and its partners have broken the Guinness World Records title for largest display of origami elephants to honor the 35,000 elephants that are lost each year to poaching,” said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Director of the 96 Elephants Campaign. 
 
“WCS’s Bronx Zoo received these gems of folded paper from all over the world and assembled them into this gorgeous display as a simple gesture that sends a powerful message to the world that we are standing together to save these majestic animals.” 
 
 
The previous record was set in 2014 by the Zoological Society of London and Whipsnade Zoo in Great Britain, which displayed 33,764 origami elephants. 
 
Largest display of origami elephants
 
The record-setting display will not be open to the public due to the sheer size, but many of the origami elephants will be incorporated into a holiday exhibit in Bronx Zoo Center for public viewing through the month of December. 
 
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