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. In his book, Lawrence Anthony, recounts the story of how he took in a rogue herd that otherwise was going to be shot. Lawrence Anthony He left an amazing legacy at the Thula Thula reserve in KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa, , and his work with conservation, and wild animals. The story is interspersed with tales of Anthony's French wife, Francoise, their dogs, the staff, and the Zulu culture. But he was the herd's last chance of survival – dangerous and unpredictable, they would be killed if Anthony wouldn't take them in.

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. Its matriarch had raided nearby neighborhoods and was put to her death prior to transport of the herd. Apparently he wanted to refuse because of the problems of adding another herd of elephants, but he just could not say no. If someone who hasn't taken in elephants wrote this book, I wouldn't have been able to make it through. There were also magnificent martial eagles, with their 7-foot wingspans, on the look out for vervet monkeys they might pluck from tree branches.Nana had learned many tricks about escaping from electrified enclosures from her earlier mentor and the herd often worked in concert to outwit their captors. As the rover rumbled through the bush, we first encountered a pride of lions lying about, obviously full after a recent kill. Well, they oget out Of the fence and head for home, but why they wanted to go home I'll never know since they were abused there. If you are interested in animals, nature, true stories of incredible interactions between animals and humans and certain conservation issues that South Africa faces, this is a 10 star read.

He had an immense respect for the indigenous people and the many species of animals that are native to the African continent. He agreed, but before arrangements for the move could be completed the animals broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot.Details of his conservation activities appeared regularly in regional and international media including CNN, CBS, BBC, Al Jazeera and Sky TV and featured in magazines and journals such as Reader's Digest, the Smithsonian, the Explorers Journal, Africa Geographic, Men's Journal, Shape magazine, Elle magazine and others. Lawrence describes various other wildlife like crocodiles, vultures, rhinos, cobras, buffalos, cheetahs etc. In some ways this story reads more like a novel than non-fiction due to its pace, twists and engagement. The message comes through loud and clear, that to truly protect any life form is to protect all by living in respectful coexistence with all life forms in the natural world model of life fueled by life. As Lawrence risked his life to create a bond with the troubled elephants and persuade them to stay on his reserve, he came to realize what a special family they were, from the wise matriarch Nana, who guided the herd, to her warrior sister Frankie, always ready to see off any threat, and their children who fought so hard to survive.