The Eye of the Elephant


Book Description

An “exciting” true account of battling the elephant poachers of Zambia by the author of Where the Crawdads Sing and her fellow biologist (The Boston Globe). Intelligent, majestic, and loyal, with lifespans matching our own, elephants are among the greatest of the wonders gracing the African wilds. Yet, in the 1970s and 1980s, about a thousand of these captivating creatures were slaughtered in Zambia each year, killed for their valuable ivory tusks. When biologists Mark and Delia Owens, residing in Africa to study lions, found themselves in the middle of a poaching fray, they took the only side they morally could: that of the elephants. From the authors of Secrets of the Savanna, The Eye of the Elephant is “part adventure story, part wildlife tale,” recounting the Owens’s struggle to save these innocent animals from decimation, a journey not only to supply the natives with ways of supporting their villages, but also to cultivate support around the globe for the protection of elephants (The Boston Globe). Filled with daring exploits among disgruntled hunters, arduous labor on the African plains, and vivid depictions of various wildlife, this remarkable tale is at once an adventure story, a travelogue, a preservationist call to action, and a fascinating examination of both human and animal nature.




Secrets of the Savanna


Book Description

The authors spent 23 years in the Zambian wilderness where they started a unique program to lift the villagers out of poverty and allow the wildlife populations to recover from poaching. After more than two decades of work, they were driven out of the country by poachers and ivory smugglers.




Survivor's Song


Book Description

The sequel to Cry of the Kalahari, this book takes up where the first began, with the Owenses returning to the Kalahari to continue their study of elephants. After deportation because of their open criticism of the government's soft stance on wildlife conservation, they find their way back to their research station to discover the remains of hundreds of poached elephants. Thus they begin a long struggle to raise consciousness about preservation among the officials, who live off black market ivory, and the villagers, who depend on elephant meat for food. Mark's obsession with catching the poachers leads to vicious confrontations and to intense strain in his relationship with Delia.




The Eye of the Elephant


Book Description

In a remote Zambian valley where elephants gracefully wandered into camp to eat fruit from the trees, the authors of the bestselling Cry of the Kalahari discovered a new wilderness Eden. But peace was shortlived when they were drawn into a struggle that threatened their lives. Photos.




Through the Eyes of Ernest


Book Description

Ever wonder what happens to the zoo and circus elephants after the all the people go home for the day? Ernest knows... Ernest is a captive born elephant with no connection to his wild relatives. He has had no chance to experience the wild, and this is, perhaps, his greatest tragedy. He doesn’t know what he is missing, but he’s about to find out. Ernest is one of thousands of elephants kept in zoos and circuses for the amusement of humans. Throughout the day, humans stare at him and make silly faces. At night, he’s confined to a tiny paddock. He has no idea about life in the wild, where close-knit families of elephants live as long as humans—presuming humans let them. His first elephant friend, wild born Frankie, tells Ernest all about the pleasures of living wild, and the family he misses so much. When humans send Ernest to the circus to perform, he meets other wild-born elephants, including wise old Mary and majestic, motherly Eve. Ernest learns more about what he’s been denied even as he discovers the rigorous, sometimes brutal world of circus training. A somber but ultimately hopeful tale told from an elephant’s point of view, Through the Eyes of Ernest: A Memoir to Honor Elephants asks us to consider why we keep such intelligent, social animals in captivity.




The Elephants Come Home


Book Description

The amazing true story of a herd of elephants, the man who saved them, and the miracle of love that brought them home. One day in 1999, Lawrence Anthony and Françoise Malby hear that a herd of wild African elephants need a new home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary—Thula Thula—with open arms. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved? What follows is a gorgeously illustrated real-life story of a friendship . . . and the story of the miraculous way that love given freely will return—greater and more wonderful than it began. • TOUCHING ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS: Owen and Mzee, Tarra and Bella, Rescue and Jessica . . . touching true stories of the emotional bonds possible between species are charming, and speak to the limitlessness of love. • ELEPHANT APPEAL: Elephants are one of the most fascinating and charming wild animals in all of nature. This heartwarming true story will intrigue and inspire children, and turn even the most reluctant readers into elephant enthusiasts. • CONSERVATION THEME: This book tells the true story of caring for one of the world's most beloved endangered animals: the African elephant. This book is a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance of preserving endangered species and their environments. • ENGAGING NONFICTION: There's no better way to get readers hooked on factual books than to offer them real-life stories with heart and meaning. • STRONG CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about animal habitats/biomes in K–2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like conservation and endangered species. With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators. Perfect for: • Kindergarten and elementary school teachers • Parents and grandparents • Librarians • Lovers of animals, wildlife, and the natural world • Zoo and natural history museumgoers




Ellison the Elephant


Book Description

This inspirational story about a little elephant who discovers his trumpet blast is different from those of his friends comes with an audio CD with dramatic readings, sound effects, and jazz music composed by Giovanna Imbesi, with vocals by Bryon Holley. Full color.




The Color of the Elephant


Book Description

An outstanding new voice in memoir, Christine Herbert takes the reader on a "time-machine tour" of her Peace Corps volunteer service as a health worker and educator from 2004-2006 in Zambia. Rather than a retrospective, this narrative unfolds in the present tense, propelling the reader alongside the memoirist through a fascinating exploration of a life lived "off the grid." At turns harrowing, playful, dewy-eyed and wise, the author's heart and candor illuminate every chapter, whether she is the heroine of the tale or her own worst enemy. Even at her most petulant, the laugh-out-loud humor scuppers any "white savior" mentality and lays bare the undeniable humanity-and humility-of the storyteller. Through it all, an undeniable love for Zambia-its people, land and culture-shines through. A must-read for the armchair adventurer, a book about Zambia - a personal Peace Corps Memoir.




Cry of the Kalahari


Book Description

"This is the story of the Owens' travel and life in the Kalahari Desert, [where] they met and studied unique animals and were confronted with danger from drought, fire, storms, and the animals they loved"--Amazon.com.




Summary of The Eye of the Elephant by Delia Owens & Mark Owens:An Epic Adventure in the African Wilderness


Book Description

The Eye of the Elephant In the heart of Africa, where the sun rises and sets over vast landscapes teeming with life, lies the Luangwa Valley, a place of unparalleled beauty and danger. This valley, framed by the majestic Luangwa River and the towering escarpments, is home to one of the continent's last great populations of elephants. Here, Delia and Mark Owens embarked on a journey that would not only change their lives but also alter the fate of these magnificent creatures. Their adventure began with an insatiable curiosity about the natural world, a passion ignited in the vast wilderness of North America and fueled by their academic pursuits in biology and zoology. This curiosity led them to Africa, a land where the raw, untamed beauty of nature is matched only by its harsh realities.