Synopses & Reviews
One day,
Ralph Helfer, a celebrated animal behaviorist, received a surprising phone call. His close friends had found a young lion near death by the Zambezi River in Zambia and had rescued him and brought him back to the States. Ralph had often spoken of wanting to raise a lion from a young age -- he had been developing a philosophy of training animals based on love instead of fear, which he termed "affection training." Weeks later, Zamba, then a two-month-old cub, arrived. As Helfer peeked into Zamba's box, he saw a small lion cub tilt his head, wait a single beat, then amble right into his arms. Hugging Helfer's neck with his soft paws, Zamba collapsed on his chest, got comfortable, and fell asleep, their faces touching. They didn't move for the next two hours. Zamba was home.
For the next eighteen years, Zamba would appear in many motion pictures, on television, and in the pages of magazines. Along with Helfer's other famous animal actors -- including Modoc the circus elephant and Gentle Ben the bear -- Zamba proved Helfer's theories resoundingly correct, and affection training revolutionized the way animals are trained and treated in the motion picture industry. Through both happy and tough times the bond between Helfer and Zamba developed into the most important of their lives, and Zamba is now enshrined in Helfer's heart and the memories of moviegoers everywhere as the greatest lion that ever lived. With stories that range from the hilarious to the incredibly sad and poignant, Zamba will give any Lion King fan a new hero and touch every animal lover's heart.
Review
“Wonderful, detailed… amusing… Zamba is a charming read.” People
Review
“A warmhearted tale of love between two species.” Booklist
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“A fascinating book … humorous and touching.” School Library Journal
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“Extraordinary ... Beautifully expresses a simple philosophy so many have trouble following: respect for all living creatures, given and returned.” Kirkus Reviews
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“An incredible story of love between man and lion ... moving…. will touch the heart of any animal lover.” Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
From celebrated Hollywood animal trainer Helfer comes the personal story of his loving relationship with a lion that he brought into his home as a four-month-old cub. As the years passed, Helfer and Zamba developed a bond that become the most important in Helfer's life. 8-page b&w photo insert.
Synopsis
When Ralph Helfer, now one of Hollywood's top animal behaviorists, first began working, he was shocked by the cruelty that was accepted practice in the field. He firmly believed in "affection training" -- that love, not fear, should be the basis of any animal's development, even when dealing with the most dangerous of creatures. Then Zamba came into his life -- an adorable four-month-old lion cub that went on to prove Helfer's theories resoundingly correct.
Over the next eighteen years, Zamba would thrive and grow, and go on to star in numerous motion pictures and television shows -- all the while developing a deep and powerful bond of love and affection with the man who raised him. By turns astonishing, hilarious, and poignant, Zamba is not only the unforgettable story of the relationship that Helfer would come to consider one of the most important in his life but also that of the amazing career and adventures of the greatest lion in the world.
About the Author
Ralph Helfer is a well-known Hollywood animal behaviorist who was one of the first to use affection and kindness to train wild animals. He is a producer, director, and lecturer as well as the author of Mosey, The Beauty of the Beasts, and Modoc. He lives in Newport Beach and in Kenya, where he hosts safari tours.