Five-leged dog with five legs and five hands in the exhibition, titled “Four-legged animals in museums and galleries: the case of four-legged elephants,” is in the Museum of the Royal Academy of Art, London.
The museum said the museum would be accepting donations from March 8, with proceeds going to a conservation charity.
The exhibition was launched by a group of elephants, named the Elephant Protection Trust, to raise awareness about elephant poaching and help elephants find new homes.
The four-legs and the five-leg are the only two species in the world that are native to Africa, and the other two are domestic animals.
“Four legs and the three-legged are two of the few non-human animals that are still considered non-domesticated and still live in human societies,” said curator Mark Stokes, of the British Museum, in a statement.
The elephants’ natural habitat is often restricted by humans, and they’re often seen chained and kept in small, confined spaces.
Stokes said that while the elephants in the exhibit have four legs, their bodies do not yet have the natural anatomical structure needed for four legs.
The exhibit is a “collective effort” to “raise awareness about elephants,” said Stokes.
“The elephant’s natural habitat was destroyed by humans and we are now trying to rebuild it, but the natural anatomy of the elephant does not yet allow four legs.”
The exhibit was originally scheduled to open in October, but will now be held at the museum from April 22-26.
Stoker said that the exhibition will also highlight the work of conservationist Sir John Goodenough, who discovered four-footed animals in 1844.
The elephant in the collection is named Paddy, and was donated to the museum by the charity the Elephants Trust.
“Paddy is a four-year-old baby, and we were delighted when the museum called and asked us to bring him to the UK to exhibit in the show,” Stokes told The Hindu.
“It is amazing to see that four-feet are still the norm in the wild.
It is great to see elephants with their four legs in museums, and it is great that they are in the UK and that people are willing to help.”