20,000‑km Climate Quest: The Herds Turn Life‑Sized Puppets into Bold Trailblazers

The Herds – A 20,000‑km Climate Art Odyssey

From the Congo’s Lush Canopy to the Polar Lights

Picture this: a team of passionate creators, armed with a compass, a camera, and a fierce love for our planet, trekked more than 20,000 kilometres. They went from the dense, emerald jungle of the Congo rainforest all the way to the shimmering auroras of Norway’s Arctic Circle. That’s the length of The Herds, a bold climate‑change art project by The Walk Productions.

Why It Matters

• Storytelling that moves the heart – By physically journeying across continents, the team turned abstract climate data into a tangible narrative.
• Data on the ground – From the biodiversity of the Congo to the fragile icy shores of the Arctic, they collected real‑time environmental snapshots.
• Community engagement – With thousands of local volunteers along the way, the project turned travel into shared activism.

Key Highlights

• 60,000 unique photographs capturing the pulse of each ecosystem.
• Live‑streamed workshops that sparked conversations in more than 20 countries.
• A downloadable “Journey Report” featuring interactive maps and climate‑change insights.

What’s Next?

After crossing the torch of intense environmental change, the project is channeling its momentum into a global exhibition that will let viewers walk these paths virtually, fostering a sense of stewardship that lasts far beyond the art piece itself.

In a world where the climate dialogue feels endless, The Herds proves that a few thousand steps—and over a 20,000 km of determination—can make a real difference. Let’s keep marching forward together!

From Jungle Jamboree to Norway’s Northern Lights

Picture a troop of gigantic, life‑size animal puppets—elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions—ripping out of Kinshasa, Congo, and heading on a grand 20,000‑kilometre trek that stitched together the Sahara, mountains, and cold Arctic. The show is a mix of fairytale and hard‑hitting reality, designed to echo how real wildlife and people flee the worsening climate crisis.

The Animal Lineup

• Elephants – the gentle giants that start the parade
• Giraffes – towering, surprisingly graceful on wheels
• Antelopes – quick, spry, and full of springy energy
• Lions – regal and a bit intimidating, but here to bring drama

New Friends Aboard the Journey

• In West Africa: giraffes and baboons appears as the caravan passes through the Sahel.
• In North Africa: an array of sheep, goats, and camels join the expedition, all crafted from recycled cardboard and plywood.
• In Europe: the crew scoops up local fauna—though they’re all prop creation, the crowd love the creativity.

Countries Crossed – 11 in Total

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Uganda
• Kenya
• Turkey
• Greece – ever the ancient storytellers join the circus.
• Italy
• France
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Norway – from the fjords to the glaciers.

Where It All Ends

• Ascended onto Norway’s Jostedalsbreen glacier, the continent’s biggest ice field.
• Packed the beat to Nordkapp—the Arctic circle’s northern point—and traded stories with sunrise on 1 August.

Along the way, roughly 1,000 people got their puppeteering chops permanently inked into their skill set, and the troupe put on 56 public events that had crowds feeling the climate story in a visceral, almost theater‑like way. The goal? Turn the devastating headlines about climate into a narrative you could actually walk through, one monstrous puppet at a time.

Get Ready to Meet the Animal Puppeteers of The Herds

Big Pet Parade Hits London on 27 June 2025

Hold onto your hats, folks—The Herds are staging a splash of whimsy in the capital. Life‑size puppets that look like the animals you’d see strolling through a safari park have been brought to life for a one‑day spectacle that’ll have both kids and adults laughing all the way.

• Ropper, the giraffe (milk‑sized neck, no real milk!)
• Tazzy the tiger – stripes that’ll make you think twice about a rug
• Bunny Big‑Belly – ready to hop into the souvenir aisle</

So if you’re in London on the 27th of June, bring a camera, a snack, and a sense of humor—you’re in for a pun‑belly‑breaking good time.

Rising Tide of Emotion: Meet “The Herds” in Lagos

On the bustling banks of the Niger River, a group of puppeteers is steering tiny cardboard creatures in makeshift canoes—yes, a literal “Canoe Pack of Cardboard Baboons”! This is the scene from The Herds, a dramatic spectacle that calls attention to the planet’s looming climate crisis through the power of heartbeats rather than hard data.

What’s the deal?

Behind the curtain is The Walk Productions, the creative brains that produced Little Amal, the towering 12‑foot puppet that journeyed through 15 countries to champion refugees. With this new endeavour, they’re turning the heat map into a story that your gut can feel.

Hot talks from the front line

• David Lan, Producer – “We’re not here to drop a science lecture. Instead, we want people to feel the climate drama in the same way they feel their favorite song.”
• Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director – “We’re playing the long game. Even if it doesn’t change the world overnight, it’s the emotional moments, the sensory spark that matter.”

Why the theatrics?

It’s all about emotion-first climate storytelling. The idea is that a well‑placed curtain call or a puppet’s gentle splash can mirror the roaring impact of a hurricane, allowing the audience to vibrate with the reality of our times. Think of it as a closer walk down the line of Gaia’s heartbeat.

Takeaway

So next time you hear about climate change in the news, picture tiny cardboard animals bobbing in canoes, absorbing the river’s grief and the crew’s optimism. The project may or may not sway global policy—but it sure does stir the soul.

Want to see the full spectacle? Grab a seat in the virtual cinema and watch The Herds complete its journey, all from the comfort of your own device.