Playground slides shaped like elephants spawn wave of nostalgia in Taiwan

‘Grandpa Elephant’ is ‘a friend who grew up with us’, says a woman who began a Facebook group documenting the disappearing playground slides

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An elephant slide at a school in New Taipei City. “Grandpa Elephant” is “a friend who grew up with us” says a woman who began a Facebook group documenting the disappearing slides. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:45pm, 14 Oct 2024

In playgrounds across Taiwan, a jumbo surprise awaits children in the form of colourful elephant slides, evoking nostalgia for older Taiwanese who say the structures used to be ubiquitous across the island.

Affectionately known as “Grandpa Elephant”, the slides are primarily made of terrazzo or concrete, and were once a regular schoolyard feature during the 60s and 70s.

But their sightings have dwindled since the island tightened playground safety regulations, with some slides removed, while others are off-limits to children.

“The elephant slide is like a friend who grew up with us,” says Yu Chiu-ling, 58, who has been documenting the remaining structures since 2010.

An elephant slide that has been refurbished to fulfil new national playground standards at a school in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Photo: AFP

A now-disused elephant slide sitting next to a new set of plastic playground facilities at a junior school in Lukang. Photo: AFP

Yu, a writer, said the idea for the project was ignited by a visit to her old primary school in western Lukang township where the sight of the elephant slide sparked intense nostalgia in her.