‘Look out!’ Marvin cries to the herd. ‘The machines are coming!’ ‘What do we do?!’ cry the elephants. ‘They’ve got Dirk!’ ‘Wait. What’s that sound? It sounds like…’ ‘Machines.’ ‘I can’t get free!’ shouted Dirk ‘Help me!’ “Amelia screams from the launch pad. Waaaaahhhhhhhhhooooo!’ ‘I can do … Continue reading »
‘Whoops… ooommmmpppphhhh’ cried Amelia. ‘The machines are coming!’ warned Marvin. ‘I can’t move! ‘Don’t panic. I’ll help you.’ (Marvin) ‘Run, Amelia, run!’ ‘It’s okay, they’re slowing down, but we have to tell the herd!’ said Marvin (The elephant herd confronts Amelia) ‘You almost led them right to us.’ … Continue reading »
‘Ooooooh, what is this?’ ‘It’s the world’s largest nest!’ ‘Awwwwkkkkkk!’ (Marvin falls in) ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!’ ‘CAAAAAWWWWWW!’ ‘Grab on!’ ‘Amelia! What are you doing?’ squawked Marvin ‘I don’t know.’ ‘It’s okay. I’ll help. I make nests all the time.’ ‘Well, it’s not a nest, … Continue reading »
If you have never discovered this delightful story before now is the time to become acquainted with young Amelia the elephant, Marvin the oxpecker and, of course, Dirk the elephant, who comes to appreciate that sometimes the most unlikely solutions from the most unlikely sources can somehow save the day! With a message that still … Continue reading »
Afterward: Graham Spence January 2017: The co-author of The Elephant Whisperer was notified of the passing of his brother-in-law, Lawrence Anthony, in the early morning of 2 March 2012. And though he had not been in recent good health this “indestructible” conservationist had succumbed to a final heart attack. But before his death, … Continue reading »
ELEPHANT SPEAK: It was magical, a “positive gentle communication” from Lawrence Anthony to his elephants. Sometimes The Elephant Whisperer would even sing. Yet part of that communication was non-verbal, “just being there doing nothing, saying nothing, (…purposefully ignoring them…) showing I was comfortable whether they were close by or not.”(ch. 6) “I had no idea … Continue reading »
Memorable Moments First Encounter Initiated by the Elephants, As Nana and Baby Mandla Stood at the Boma Fence. “…suddenly I felt sheathed in a sense of contentment. Despite standing just a pace from this previously foul-tempered wild animal who until now would have liked nothing better than to kill me, I had never felt safer. … Continue reading »
DON’T MISS THIS: ch. 14 Frankie & the Four Wheeler “I involuntarily sat down on the bike and looked up at the crinkled underside of Frankie’s throat in petrified wonder.” ch. 17 Nana’s & the Herd’s First Visit to the House, at 2am! Of Nana: “I doubt whether many people have had a ten-foot five-ton … Continue reading »
Meet the Elephants! NANA: Matriarch named in honor of Lawrence’s “mum” Regina, that name which she is affectionately known by her grandchildren. Nana’s sister (Mnumzane’s mother) had been the matriarch of this herd of “highly disturbed elephants” (ch. 2) before “she and her baby had been shot during the capture in Mpumalanga, their former home, … Continue reading »
Team Thula Thula Lawrence Anthony: aka The Elephant Whisperer Mkhulu, his Zulu name meant “grandfather but not in the limited Western sense”…as “Zulus venerate maturity” this was definitely seen “as a compliment”. (ch. 4) His first encounter with Francoise. (p. 25) These were “among my favourite animals …the honey badger or ratel … … Continue reading »