Bent, Nancy (1 November 2009). "Untitled [review of The Elephant Whisperer, by Lawrence Anthony]". Booklist: 9.

But it was the encounter with a massive bull elephant coming straight at us that had even our veteran guide alarmed. This pachyderm was in musth, meaning his testosterone had spiked 60% and he was looking to mate. The ranger pointed out the tell-tale streams of the hormone running from the eyes down each side of the monster’s face. The driver found the first avenue he could use to pull us away from the main road and into the cover of the bush.For another look at the emotional bonds that elephants may experience with one another, this short documentary details the experience of two elephants, Shirley Jenny, who were reunited after over 20 years of being apart. They went on to live together for 6 years before Jenny's death in 2006, at which time Shirley remained alone in the woods and didn't eat for two days: exploits when he accepted a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa. Against all advice he took on the herd and told that it was their last chance of survival, as they were to be killed if he didn't take them. Before the move was complete the elephants broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot, the remaining elephants were traumatised, dangerous, and very angry. As soon as they arrived at Thula Thula they started planning their escape making life for Lawrence even harder and more difficult for him to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution. This book is full of joy and sadness but will not only appeal to animal lovers but also others who just like a good read. Lawrence Anthony runs a nature preserve in South Africa called Thula Thula. One day, he gets a call from someone offering him a herd of nine elephants for the preserve. The herd is apparently "rogue." They hate people. They've escaped several times from their current home. And the matriarch thinks nothing of grabbing an electric wire, and taking the 8,000 volts of electricity long enough to short the wire or tear it down to clear a path for escape. If Anthony refuses to take the elephants, they'll all be shot. So he says yes.

Hoorah for Lawrence Anthony (referred to in the Zulu tongue by a title that sounded like In-koo-loo). He's the inspired owner of Thula Thula Wild Animal Reserve, in Zulu-land, South Africa. I feel like I know him now. He seemed grateful for his good fortune and honest about his mistakes. I felt his joy, frustration, anger, and pain. There's some preaching or soap-boxing, but it's minimal and bothered me not at all. His knowledge about animals was obviously gathered over years of living and working with them. I wish I could have met him - he must have had soooo much to share, beyond what was in the book; both about the animals, and the history of this area of Africa where he and his family made their home, and struggled to do so. From what I got from the book, this was not a man with more money than brains, who so decided to 'do something politically correct' with his wealth. He truly belived in what he chose to do, and fund ways to do it. By the time the elephants arrive at Thula Thula, the herd is down to seven. Their previous owners shot the matriarch and her baby so they wouldn't "cause any more trouble." (You learn later that it's not the elephants who are the problem.) And the herd hates humans even more than it did before.But, most of all, we had come to this land, “beautiful beyond the singing of it” (Alan Paton), to go on safari. This meant a flight north of Cape Town in a small plane to a private game reserve. As the plane touched down on the narrow airstrip and the storks scattered, we felt at once relief and excitement. Upon embarking from the plane, we were greeted by our amiable ranger-guide, Hermann Loubser. In April, the University of KwaZulu-Natal's College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science posthumously awarded Lawrence an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Dylan spoke about his father at that event. You can see the speech he gave below (Dylan's speech begins at 2:22): Though Lawrence Anthony passed away in 2012, his Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization continues his tradition and values of pursuing practical conservation projects aimed at making the world a better place for humans and wildlife. a b c d " The Choice, featuring Lawrence Anthony". BBC radio 4. 4 September 2007 . Retrieved 4 September 2007.