The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild [Hardcover]

Lawrence Anthony (Author), Graham Spence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2009

When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of "rogue" wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, his common sense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival: they would be killed if he wouldn't take them.

 

In order to save their lives, Anthony took them in. In the years that followed he became a part of their family. And as he battled to create a bond with the elephants, he came to realize that they had a great deal to teach him about life, loyalty, and freedom.

The Elephant Whisperer is a heartwarming, exciting, funny, and sometimes sad account of Anthony's experiences with these huge yet sympathetic creatures. Set against the background of life on an African game reserve, with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, it is a delightful book that will appeal to animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1998, prize-winning conservationist Anthony (Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo) purchased Thula Thula, "5,000 acres of pristine bush in the heart of Zululand, South Africa," transforming a rundown hunters' camp (dating to the 19th century) into a wild animal preserve and a center for eco-tourism. In 1999, Anthony agreed to take in a herd of "troubled" wild elephants, the first seen in the area in more than a century. Winning their trust, becoming deeply attached, and even learning how they communicate (deep, rumbling "whispers," sensed rather than heard), Anthony took enormous risks in the form of enraged elephants, distrustful neighbors, and poachers. Over time Anthony succeeds in his larger goal, winning support from the six Zulu tribes whose land borders the reserve ("most Zulus ... had never set eyes on an elephant"); they eventually join Anthony's venture as partners in a larger conservation trust. An inspiring, multifaceted account, Anthony's book offers fascinating insights into the lives of wild elephants in the broader context of Zulu culture in post-Apartheid South Africa. 8 page color photo insert.
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From Booklist

Anthony, conservationist and author (Babylon’s Ark, 2007), owns a wildlife reserve in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A former hunting preserve, rumored to be part of the legendary Shaka’s exclusive hunting territory, it has become a game reserve with a lodge for ecotourists. Home to Zululand’s full suite of wildlife, Thula Thula had everything—except elephants. When he was offered a herd from another game reserve Anthony accepted wholeheartedly, despite the fact that these elephants were known escape artists. During their first night at the park the traumatized elephants broke out, and after days on the run had been given a death sentence by the local wildlife authorities, only averted when the author pleaded for one more chance. The story of how Anthony saved his elephants by making friends with them, reversing their negative perceptions of humans and earning their trust, is both heartwarming and heartening. Life on a game reserve is never easy, particularly when elephants are added to the mix, but Anthony’s enthusiasm and obvious love for the bush shine through in hair-raising, sad, and funny tales. This life with elephants is a real winner. --Nancy Bent

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1 edition (November 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031256578X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312565787
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lawrence Anthony (born 1950, Johannesburg) and raised in rural Zambia and Malawi, is an international conservationist, explorer, and adventurer.

Anthony is the long standing head of conservation at the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand South Africa and the Founder of The Earth Organization, an independent, international conservation and environmental group with a strong scientific orientation. He is an member of the esteemed Explorers Club of New York and a member the National Council of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. [S2A3]

Anthony, has a reputation for bold conservation initiatives, including the rescue of the Baghdad zoo during the US lead Coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, and expeditions deep into the Congo jungle to meet leaders of the infamous Lord's Resistance Army rebel army, to try and protect endangered species.

An acknowledged African wildlife expert, Anthony's personal focus is the African elephant.

Details of his conservation activities have appeared regularly in the international media and featured in magazine's and journals such as Readers Digest, the Smithsonian, the Explorers Journal, Africa Geographic, Men's Journal, Shape magazine, Elle Magazine and others.

Anthony is married to Francoise and lives on the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand. He has two sons and two grandsons.

Quote: "I have never understood the saying 'To think outside the box.' Why would anyone sit inside a box and think outside of it. Rather just get out of the box."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Elephant Stories!, November 16, 2009

By 

Enjolras (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild (Hardcover)

I love Elephants, and was looking for a book that would recall the absolute joy I felt when I first saw them in the wild. I could not have done better than Lawrence Anthony's The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild.

Anthony, a former businesman-turned-conservationist, manages the Thula Thula private game reserve in Zululand, South Africa. At the beginning of the story, he accepted a "rogue" herd of Elephants onto his reserve. As soon as they arrive they start trying to escape. Anthony realizes that that, in order to calm the herd down, he has to communicate with them. Throughout the book, nthony often finds himself alone in the African bush with the Elephants. He uses the same verbal and physical language strategies that humans employ everyday to communicate with each other, such as changing the intonation of his voice. The amount of communication between Anthony and the Elephants is truly incredible. Eventually, he forms a strong bond with the two leading females. When one large female, Frankie, does charge him, Anthony is able to persuade her to stop by shouting, "Don't, it's me!" Throughout the book, Anthony shows just how deep and sincere the bond really is. In one memorable encounter, Anthony is standing near the giant matriarch Nana when he realizes she just wants her presence acknowledged. That simple act of recognition satisfied Nana and cemented their connection.

Part memoir, part collection of anecdotes, each chapter of The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild contains a different and generally exciting story about Anthony, the team at Thula Thula, and the herd. If the book had a theme it would be emotions and wildlife. I often felt like Anthony took me, as the reader, along for a ride on an emotional roller coaster. I've read many books about Elephants, but found myself floored by some of their antics. Anthony reports that whenever he arrived back at Thula Thula from a trip, the Elephants would line up to greet him at the front gate. Once, when he was in Durban and his flight was canceled, the Elephants stopped their march to the gate and turned back - at exactly the same time Anthony heard his flight was canceled. At another point, the Elephants demonstrated their love for freedom by opening the gate to a boma enclosure and freeing a herd of Nyala antelope that was being prepared for transport. Other animals, from the Elephants to Anthony's dog, show amazing courage in the face of adversity. By the end of the book, I was almost in tears, but also happy to know that humans were slowly breaking the barriers of communication with Elephants.

None of this is to ignore the human characters in the book. They're also an incredible bunch. Françoise, Anthony's Parisian wife, helps in the maintenance of the lodge and often provides lighthearted relief. David, the bush ranger, seems absolutely fearless as he drives toward burning fires and ventures out into the night with two male lions on the prowl. The regal Zulu king Nkosi provides a connection to the Zulu tribe's past as well as a vision for the future. As with all good heros, the book has its set of villains, from poachers to cattle barons. It even features several shootouts.

The real question isn't whether to get this book - it's how soon you're going to book a trip to Anthony's Thula Thula reserve (where I heard his wife makes a great cuisine). I've already told my wife that it will be our next adventure. In the meantime, I ordered Lawrence Anthony's Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo.

Here are some other good books and movies on Elephants that I've enjoyed:
- Echo and Other Elephants
- Elephant Memories: Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family
- Elephant Destiny
- Elephant
- When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals
- Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa's Natural Treasures

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute delight!!!!, November 25, 2009

By 

D. J. Ridge (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild (Hardcover)

I have been fascinated by elephants ever since seeing a documentary on them so it's no wonder this book caught my attention. From page one it grabbed me and kept enthralled throughout. The relationship between Lawrence Anthony and his wild herd of elephants is something to be admired. I felt transported to another world as I read about life on "Thula Thula". This book is not just about elephants but about all the adventures of life in the African Wild. I am so captivated with this man and his work that I now want to visit Thula Thula one day so I can meet this amazing herd of jumbos. If you are an animal lover, especially exotic animals, I highly recommend this book. It will not disappoint.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Elephant Whisperer will win your heart., December 21, 2009

By 

H. M. Stabbe - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild (Hardcover)

I loved this book. It took me into a world that I could only hope to experience. Lawrence Anthony has a story to tell that will fill hearts with exhiliration, joy, as well as sadness and exasperation. He really reveals the depth of elephants in a way that only one who has spent considerable time and love on them can. A great read.