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

Lawrence Anthony · Graham Spence

Nov 2009 · Elephant Whisperer Book 1 · Sold by Macmillan

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

This book was very captivating. I love the way the author described his surroundings without getting overly wordy. I am going to look for his other book, which means I absolutely loved this one.

Loved it. What a hear felt story surrounding the beloved elephants and their move to a new area in order to spare their lives. They are lucky to have been taken in by Mr. Anthony.

beautifully written and easy to read. I found it hard to put down, as I laughed and cried at the recounting of adventures and the saying of good-byes as the proverbial circle of life carries on.

About the author

Lawrence Anthony (1950-2012) founded the Thula Thula wildlife reserve in Zululand, South Africa; launched The Lawrence Anthony Foundation; and received the UN's Earth Day award for his efforts to save the animals of the Baghdad Zoo. With Graham Spence, he is the author of Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo, The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, and The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures.

GRAHAM SPENCE is a journalist and editor. Originally from South Africa, he lives in England. Together they also wrote Babylon's Ark: the Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo.