Customer Reviews

In the Presence of Elephants

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In defense of this book, I am compelled to support the spirit of its purpose. Yes it is published by people with captive elephants, but the elephants in this book are now as free as they can be, at the home of PAWS, (Performing Animal Welfare Society) where "abandoned or abused performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and contentment." They may be visited in person at their Galt, California sanctuary. Kudos to an organization that does not glorify the human entertainment of training wild animals to perform unnatural acts.

This is a sweet little book with wonderful photos of these elephants "71" and Mara growing up and finding contentment at PAWS in galt CA. The photos are so touching. It's more of a picture book...a documentary told in beautiful black and white photos...I loved it! the photos alone are worth the price!

The photographs are stunning and the message clear and compelling. To the person who reviewed this and called Pat Derby and Ed Stewart hypocrits, you really missed the point. They have provided an amazing sanctuary for these animals and others. They do not promote keeping animals in capitivity, they simply are caring for those that are unfortunetly, already captive. They are providing a wonderful place for them to iive out their lives with the hopes that there will not be a need in the future to provide sanctuary for any others, though sadly, that seems to be only a dream.

This is a book full of pictures of elephants, NOT a Peter S. Beagle book. He wrote a few paragraphs of an introduction, nothing else. In terms of the rest of the book, it is bland and hypocritical; the authors bemoan the fact of captive elephants, while keeping captive elephants. The pictures are poor quality as well.