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

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Apparently he wanted to refuse because of the problems of adding another herd of elephants, but he just could not say no. I have always had a fascination and fondness of elephants and it was mainly the reason I started reading it. I am even considering traveling to Lawrence’s reservation, to be in his shadow, Nana’s shadow, the warmth and trust and hope that came out for me. The driver found the first avenue he could use to pull us away from the main road and into the cover of the bush. He allows them to be elephants- which is to give them greater credit than most humans do for their ability to feel, communicate, and understand in their own way.

Set against the background of life on the reserve, with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, this is a delightful book that will appeal to animal lovers everywhere. Lawrence Anthony (17 September 1950 – 2 March 2012) was a South African conservationist, environmentalist, explorer and bestselling author. The Elephant Whisperer is a touching story of the amazing capabilities of elephants and the story of how humans can reach out to them.

This story is actually a balance of wondrous and woeful perspective of the reality of physical life, especially in the latter chapters, depicted through fascinating experiences. Nana becomes the troubled herd’s defacto matriarch after the herd’s real matriarch is shot and killed just prior to the herd’s transfer to Thula Thula, Anthony’s game reserve, in 1999. With unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, this is an enthralling book that will appeal to animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere. Every wild thing is in tune with its surroundings, awake to its fate and in absolute harmony with the planet.

It is an touching story about tough man's love and deep connection with these fascinating huge animals. As reported by the CBC on July 25, 2012, "After his death, although they were not alerted to the event, a group of wild elephants Anthony helped to rescue and rehabilitate travelled to his house in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. 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. The story can be seen in one vein as the age old struggle between the primal savagery of trigger happy men killing for the thrill of it, and wiser minds trying to protect wildlife, knowing humankind's future is at stake.Its matriarch had raided nearby neighborhoods and was put to her death prior to transport of the herd.

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.We had a couple minutes to brush our teeth before meeting at the vehicle; showers would have to wait. It perplexes me how our blinkered cognitive processes exhibit such vagaries, even though knowing of the fickleness of evolution's trials and the influences of subjective experiences. In some ways this story reads more like a novel than non-fiction due to its pace, twists and engagement. The story is interspersed with tales of Anthony's French wife, Francoise, their dogs, the staff, and the Zulu culture.

It was something I simply couldn’t fathom … what type of person would shoot a terrified teenage elephant, and a female at that?They make another attempt to escape, but Lawrence comes in front of them, talking to them in a soft tone. He had an immense respect for the indigenous people and the many species of animals that are native to the African continent. More than just feel-good animal rescue story, Lawrence also includes insight on the challenges of running a wildlife reserve and the ever-present danger of poachers. The author was remarkable because he would follow his intuition about situations rather than standard advice, often while fearing his actions could bring about his demise.