Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Savanna

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have just finished Secrets of the Savanna - a most worthy sequel to The Eye of the Elephant and Cry of the Kalahari and I am starting it again. I feel I have been on safari to North Luangwa in Zambia - living with the people and the elephants. Delia and Mark Owens write beautifully and their work to save the elephants by saving the people moved me to tears and shouts of joy. I was amazed to learn how the elephants are rebuilding their society after the heavy poaching of the 70's and 80's. The parallels between human and animal behavior are thought provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves nature and wants to find a way for humanity to prosper along side of wildlife.

This eloquently written book combined interesting insights into the authors' lives and work in Zambia, along with their compelling message. A special treat was learning how they were shaped by their childhood experiences. Their passion for wilderness and its inhabitants is absolutely inspirational.

This book tells of Mark and Delia Owens' work with the animals and humans in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. Poachers have decimated the animal population (particularly the elephants), and the Owens work toward animal repopulation and human education. They follow a good business plan in reeducating the Zambians. Those relying on poaching for a living must be taught alternative means of support, and the Owens are very creative in this regard. Their self sacrifice during 23 years of residence is amazing!

This is the thrilling story of how an American couple transformed a Zambian wilderness where 100,000 elephants had been slaughtered into a haven of hope. While putting their lives on the line to chase out the poachers, Mark and Delia Owens helped the villagers build alternative sources of livelihood, schools and health clinics. The book also explains how poaching had so unraveled elephant society that young aggressive males began forming gangs, and surviving females became adolescent single moms. Yes, the elephants' sisterhood and parenting adaptations supply an instructive model for us higher (if shorter) mammals in urban America. Updating their best-selling 'Cry of the Kalahari' and 'The Eye of the Elephant,' 'Secrets of the Savanna' is a compelling culmination of the Owenses' heroic 23-year mission in Africa. It's an absolute must-read for both supporters of conservation and adventure-minded travelers.

This poignant story of a remarkable and complex struggle in one of the darkest corners of Africa brings light to our shaken world. Mark and Delia Owens have developed a revolutionary and enlightened economic system which uplifts the local population and preserves wildlife. Devoted to conservation, the Owens survived threats to their lives and overcome ruthless corruption. Working within unfamiliar cultures, they successfully helped elephants, lions, and other native animals recover and fluorish. The lion-hearted Mark and doe-eyed Delia bring hope to us all. For anyone interested in Africa or wildlife, this is a must-read. Every student of economics should read this book in order to see there is another way of running the world!

This book is the ultimate combination of a biography of two amazing wildlife conservationists, who raise the standard of living of the local African native people and a guide to endangered species preservation everywhere.
The book reads like an adventure story with the added feature of the splendid work done in habitat & wildlife protection.
it quickly becomes a page turner.

The authors had the pleasure and trials of exploring one of the last wild places on earth, in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia - and encountered both wild beauty and danger. Their story comes to life in SECRETS OF THE SAVANNA: 23 YEARS IN THE AFRICAN WILDERNESS UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF ELEPHANTS AND PEOPLE. They lived with wild animals, observed similarities between their behaviors and those of humans, and here make additional social comparisons between animals and humans under stress. Travel, science, and social issues blend in a fine survey.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Written so that you feel you are looking over their shoulders as they see and work in Africa. A bit of mystery, a cautionary tale and an inspirational love story. The book describes the obstacles they faced and the gile, resourcefulness, courage and passion they bring to their work and lives. A worthy follow-on to Cry of the Kalahari and Eye of the Elephant.

I had read the owen's two previous books and really loved them. I found this one and thought well, I already know what they did so this will just be review. Well, was I wrong. It is a great book and kept me enthralled till the end. They have such a practical approach to getting the local population involved, and they have had such sucess. Anyone would love this book. It is so possitive that it just tickles your heart, and such a love story. To think they have done all this together. Wow. I gave it a 5 and would have given it 10 if I could. jeannie Clarke

This is the grand finale of the Africa books for the Owens'. I have read all with great appreciataion for what they have done over many years, but I felt that this book was the best of all. It is the culmination of more maturity and experience of their programs and writing. I would recommend it to anyone with any interest in conservation. It is also glimpse into the human spirit when confronted with the difficult task of orchestrating the survival of both man and animal harmoniously. These are two awesome people doing great work.