The Elephant Whisperer: Learning About Life, Loyalty and Freedom From a Remarkable Herd of Elephants

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That understanding and generosity of spirit is alive and well in the pachyderm kingdom; that elephants are emotional, caring and extremely intelligent; and that they value good relations with humans. I don't read memoirs that revolves around someone life around animals that much and efter reading this book, I feel like that need to change. I found Lawrence Anthony a charismatic, strong storyteller, who appreciates the humor in situations, so this is an entertaining, enjoyable story. If he refuses the request, all the elephants will be killed as they are causing lot of damages to the owner. This book contains story after story of wild adventures that take place over an undefined number of years, which are well-chosen for their level of significance, adventure, danger, or comedic effect.

Without a matriarch or a bull mentor, the young males can easily turn into rogues that rampage through villages or attack every animal in sight. Over the years throughout the birth of new babies and the death of friends Anthony learned to love and care for this family of pachyderms - at the same time that they learned to trust him and adapt Thula Thula as their sacred homeland. The audio narration by Simon Vance is wonderful, and earned a Audie Award for Biography/Memoir in 2014. But it was at a muddy waterhole where we hit the jackpot----a herd of elephants cooling themselves in the shade, a mother elephant constantly pouring the darkened water over her mischievous baby.Fascinating memoir of the adventurous life of wildlife conservationist Lawrence Anthony, head of Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, Kwa-Zulu Natal province, South Africa. The ranger pointed out the tell-tale streams of the hormone running from the eyes down each side of the monster’s face. Lawrence describes various other wildlife like crocodiles, vultures, rhinos, cobras, buffalos, cheetahs etc.

I ran the gamut of emotions as I read this book: I laughed, I cried, I was amazed, sometimes shocked, and ultimately, I fell in love with the elephants and their human rescuer. I send a big thank you to the Zulu people for creating and maintaining this magnificent wild game refuge. The book focuses on his taking in a herd of "rogue" wild elephants, the adventures that ensued, and the incredible connections Lawrence formed with them as they learned to trust him. A moving account of one man's race to save a herd of elephants – with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, The Elephant Whisperer is an enthralling book that will appeal to animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere.I read that the author of this book recently passed away and that the elephants he interacted with for many years instinctively traveled a very long way on foot over many, many miles to come and visit him at the place where he passed away. This book is full of joy and sadness but will not only appeal to animal lovers but also others who just like a good read. If someone who hasn't taken in elephants wrote this book, I wouldn't have been able to make it through. exploits when he accepted a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa. What a lucky herd to have been given the chance to live at Thula Thula and to have an advocate on their side when no one else wanted them.

I very much look forward to reading Babylon’s Ark, when Anthony went to rescue the animals in the Iraq zoo while it was still very much a war torn area. When Lawrence passed away, the elephants he rescued and nurtured came visting to his house to pay their last respects. So don't let the "whisperer" title make you think it's just another of those "sappy animal lover reads". Lawrence notes that most of us are under the false belief that effective communication is the sole monopoly of humans. We learn of how the elephants would come out in a herd to greet Lawrence, and would actually start their procession when he was on the way back to the reserve.He agreed, but before arrangements for the move could be completed the animals broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot. Lots of love to Nana, the wise old matriarch elephant, and to her fiercely protective sister Frankie. We had a couple minutes to brush our teeth before meeting at the vehicle; showers would have to wait. This is a beautifully written story of perseverance, patience, understanding, loyalty, and love that is hard to put down.

Our family of four, along with a Dutch family of four from Rotterdam, scrambled on to the large Toyota land rover. Anthony shares his experiences in words and photos, and tells of difficulties with poachers, local tribal courts, unruly bushrangers, and with the wild elephants themselves. He was the long-standing head of conservation at the Thula Thula animal reserve in Zululand, South Africa, and the Founder of The Earth Organization, a privately registered, independent, international conservation and environmental group with a strong scientific orientation. Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of ‘rogue’ elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa because he was known as being amazingly good with animals. It covers interactions with a wide range of other wildlife, including the leopard, hyena, kudu, lion, rhino, cape buffalo, crocodile, and more.Elephants are only one of three mammals, other than humans, that can recognize themselves in a mirror. What a beautiful story that teaches us so much about the capability of animals to show deep love and concern, and the bonds they can form with humans.