The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

His son, Jason, told BBC Radio 4: Voice 4 Voice 2Īnthony formed a very special link with the elephants. If the elephants left Thula Thula they would be shot and killed.

That day Anthony released the elephants from the fenced area. ‘I began to understand that once the matriarch makes a decision she communicates it to the herd. He discovered that all the other elephants accepted him too. Anthony said that everything changed after this happened. And Nana touched Anthony with her trunk! She had accepted him. Then one day she put her long trunk through the fence. As the weeks passed Nana let him move nearer and nearer. The leader of the elephants was a female called Nana. He wanted to persuade the elephants to stay in Thula Thula. He told them they were in their new home. He talked to them as if they were people. I would be there for weeks.’ Voice 1Īfter a little while the elephants let him come closer to the fence. The elephants got angry if he came too near. He lived and slept by the elephants for many weeks. He decided to live with the elephants! Voice 2 Voice 1Īnthony brought the elephants home to Thula Thula again. Other people would shoot the elephants if he did not find them. Voice 2Īnthony had to find the elephants. The elephants would get an electric shock if they touched the fence. They were released into a special area for keeping animals. The elephants arrived at Thula Thula in a big truck. So he decided to give them a home at Thula Thula. The elephants were so dangerous that the authorities would have to kill them. They charged, or ran at, vehicles and people. In 1999, an animal organisation talked to Lawrence Anthony. Such animals do well in game reserves because they can live in their natural environment. This very large area of land is used to protect wild animals. He owned a game reserve called Thula Thula. He worked to protect wild animals and the places they live. Lawrence Anthony lived in Zululand, South Africa. Many people called him ‘The Elephant Whisperer’. But who was this man? And why was he special to the elephants? Today’s Spotlight is on this man. Something has happened – their human friend has just died. But they seem to sense that something has happened. They have not been there for about two years. This group or herd of elephants goes to the home of their human friend. Their long noses or trunks move from side to side as they walk.

These large grey animals walk for more than 12 hours. In South Africa a group of elephants starts to walk slowly across the land. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.Ĭlick here to follow along with this program on YouTube Voice 1 Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting.

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony