Elephant Whisperer My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

Meet Greg. Heandrsquo;s a stocky guy with an outsized swagger. Heandrsquo;s been the intimidating yet sociable don of his posse of friendsandmdash;including Abe, Keith, Mike, Kevin, Torn Trunk, and Willie. But one arid summer the tide begins to shift and the third-ranking Kevin starts to get ambitious, seeking a higher position within this social club. But this is no ordinary tale of gangland betrayalandmdash;Greg and his entourage are bull elephants in Etosha National Park, Namibia, where, for the last twenty-three years, Caitlin Oandrsquo;Connell has been a keen observer of their complicated friendships.

In Elephant Don, Oandrsquo;Connell, one of the leading experts on elephant communication and social behavior, offers a rare inside look at the social world of African male elephants. Elephant Don tracks Greg and his group of bulls as Oandrsquo;Connell tries to understand the vicissitudes of male friendship, power struggles, and play. A frequently heart-wrenching portrayal of commitment, loyalty, and affection between individuals yearning for companionship, it vividly captures an incredible repertoire of elephant behavior and communication. and#160;Greg, Oandrsquo;Connell shows, is sometimes a tyrant and other times a benevolent dictator as he attempts to hold onto his position at the top. Though Elephant Don is Gregandrsquo;s story, it is also the story of Oandrsquo;Connell and the challenges and triumphs of field research in environs more hospitable to lions and snakes than scientists.

Readers will be drawn into dramatic tales of an elephant society at once exotic and surprisingly familiar, as Oandrsquo;Connellandrsquo;s decades of close research reveal extraordinary discoveries about a male society not wholly unlike our own. Surely weandrsquo;ve all known a Greg or two, and through this book we may come to know them in a whole new light.

"Anthony has made a difference in the lives of many magnificent animals who otherwise would have been lost to the world. When you're feeling down and out and defeated and ready to give up, read this inspiring book and share it widely with others."--Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals "In my thirty-five years of studying man/animal communication I have met only a few individuals who have the ability to enter into the metaphysical realm of the exotic animal. Lawrence Anthony has been there and back. His wonderfully written book The Elephant Whisperer is a true reflection of his ability to be one of the pachyderms."--Ralph Helfer, author of Modoc "A lovingly written tale of close encounters, some beautiful and some frightening, with humans and nonhumans alike. Anthony's story of his trials and tribulations in preserving a herd of African elephants is a parable for the continent."--Irene M. Pepperberg, author of Alex & Me "An engaging and vividly personal account, The Elephant Whisperer invites you in, as confidant and confederate, from the first page and holds you rapt to the very last. A compelling reminder of the power and mysteries of the natural world, Thula Thula's elephants are lucky to have a friend like Lawrence Anthony."--Amelia Thomas, author of The Zoo on the Road to Nablus 

“The Elephant Whisperer is every bit as much a page-turner as a novel. … Anyone who remembers Born Free, a personal story of tamed East African lions, will hope this book, too, is destined for the screen.”

—San Francisco Book Review

andldquo;Elephant Don is truly a winner in many different ways. The best way to learn about the magnificent animals with whom we share Earthandmdash;or with whom we are supposed to peacefully coexistandmdash; is to meet them up close and personal, by name, by social relationships, and by their daily and sometimes hourly ups and downs. By reading the autobiographies detailing the roller coaster of emotions of a pachyderm posse we experience their own and otherand#39;s lifeand#39;s challenges, and we see them as the unique individuals they truly are. In this landmark book we also learn about the ups and downs of doing extremely difficult, highly rewarding, and incredibly important field research.and#160;There surely is no one better than Oandrsquo;Connell to tell the stories of the animals she knows so well, to see how what they actually do meshes with extant models and theories, and what itandrsquo;s really like to conduct this sort of research with a team of incredibly dedicated researchers, all of whom also are unique individuals. I will share this book widely. It is that good.andrdquo;

andldquo;Elephant bullsandmdash;those magnificent creatures now in the eyesight of hunters and poachersandmdash;were always portrayed as loners. Oandrsquo;Connell has changed this by showing their intensely social nature. Not only do bulls frequently associate, they have subtle ways of communicating status and to jockey for position. All of this is complicated by the andlsquo;musthandrsquo; wild card characteristic of the species. A fascinating look into the politics of the largest land animal.andrdquo;

andldquo;In Elephant Don, Oandrsquo;Connell, one of the leading experts on elephant communication and social behavior, takes us inside the little-known world of African male elephants, a world that is steeped in ritual, where bonds are maintained by unexpected tenderness punctuated by violence. It is also the story of Oandrsquo;Connell and the challenges and triumphs of field research. And it comes at a critical time when the slaughter of these intelligent and long lived creatures is at an all time high. The more people learn about them, the more they are likely to help efforts to save them.andrdquo;

andldquo;Oand#39;Connell not only delivers a fascinating glimpse into the complex social lives of these intelligent pachyderms but also highlights the gritty challenges faced by scientists who study them in their natural environment.andrdquo;

andldquo;An outstanding book. . . . There are no substitutes for long-term field research on identified individualsand#160;and, as you read Dr. Oandrsquo;Connellandrsquo;s book, youandrsquo;ll feel like youandrsquo;re right there with her, her incredible team of researchers, and these most interesting and amazing animals. Written for a broad audience, not only researchers,and#160;I hopeand#160;Elephant Don enjoys a global audience. This book can really make a positive difference in the lives of these most amazing and majestic beings.andrdquo;

andldquo;Elephant Don offers an insight into the changing world of male friendships and coalitions that go on in a bachelor herd and by the end of the book you feel as if you know the herd intimately. If you have any interest in elephants and their behaviorand#160;you will enjoy this book and you will almost certainly gain a greater understanding of elephant society.andrdquo;

andldquo;The stories Oandrsquo;Connell has to tellandmdash;both about the elephants and about life in the field, with poisonous snakes and infrequent access to a showerandmdash;are certainly absorbing.andrdquo;

andldquo;A highly engaging and at times deeply affecting personal memoir of her years monitoring elephant society.andrdquo;

andldquo;Oandrsquo;Connellandrsquo;s longtime watching, astute observations, photographs, and down-to-earth but detail-filled prose bring fascinating tales and postulations regarding elephant society.andrdquo;

andldquo;In her latest book, Elephant Don, just out this month, the gifted translator of all things elephant, provides a front row seat on a long-running soap opera, which has been cast with some very big stars.andrdquo;

andldquo;The jaunty title belies the scholarly weight of Oand#39;Connellandrsquo;s study on social behavior in a group of African bull elephants in Namibiaandrsquo;s Etosha National Park. Oandrsquo;Connell, who also works on the role of vibration in mammal communication, offers a riveting account. We see the pachyderms dipping their trunks into the mouth of dominant bull Greg; battling or welcoming would-be members; and, when Greg disappears, standing tail to tail, facing out as if listening for some seismic clue. Full of vivid detail, such as waking up to the andlsquo;demonic-sounding gigglingandrsquo; of hyenas.andrdquo;

When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his reserve at Thula Thula, his commonsense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival - notorious escape artists, they would all be killed if Lawrence wouldn't take them. He agreed, but before arrangements for the move could be completed the animals broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot. The remaining elephants were traumatised and very angry. As soon as they arrived at Thula Thula they started planning their escape...

As Lawrence battled to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution, he came to realise that they had a lot to teach him about love, loyalty and freedom. 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 devoted his life to animal conservation, protecting the world's endangered species. Then he 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 memoir 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, Anthony's unrelenting efforts at animal protection and his remarkable connection with nature will inspire animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere.

Lawrence Anthony devoted his life to animal conservation, protecting the world's endangered species. Then he 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 memoir 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, Anthony's unrelenting efforts at animal protection and his remarkable connection with nature will inspire animal lovers and adventurous souls everywhere.

LAWRENCE ANTHONY is an acclaimed conservationist and founder of The Earth Organization. He received the UNs Earth Day award for his work in Baghdad. He lives in Zululand, South Africa. 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.

Kissing of the Ring

Journey to Mushara

The Head That Wears the Crown

Introduction to the Boysand#8217; Club

Dung Diaries

Teenage Wasteland

Coalitions and a Fall from Grace

Male Bonding

The Domino Effect

Capo di Tutti Capi

Of Musth and Other Demons

The Emotional Elephant

The Don Back in the Driverand#8217;s Seat

Closure

Sniffing Out Your Relatives

Where Are the Boys in Gray?

A Case for Dishonest Signaling

The Don under Fire

Black Mamba in Camp

Baying at a Testosterone-Filled Moon

Relentless Wind

A Deposed Don

The Don Returns

Scramble for Power

The Royal Family

Wee Hours

The Politics of Family

A New Beginning

Acknowledgments

Captions for Chapter-Opening Photos

Index