The Elephants of Thula Thula

March 1, 2023
We return to Thula Thula, the South African game reserve founded by Lawrence Anthony and his wife, Fran�oise Malby-Anthony (An Elephant in my Kitchen, 2019), in this chronicling of the latest tales of life with a herd of elephants, several rhinos, and other denizens of the bush. Malby-Anthony, who took over managing the reserve after her husband's death, begins with the excitement of the elephant matriarch, Frankie, circumventing the electric fence protecting the gardens and the guest quarters to munch on the plantings. Further adventures include dehorning the resident rhinos to protect them from poachers. The antics of male rhino Thabo--he likes to tussle with Land Rovers--highlight the intimate knowledge the author and her staff have of the reserve's animal residents. While rehabilitating injured or orphaned animals, managing the size of the elephant herd with contraception, adding land so the herd could grow, and coping the loss of income during COVID-19 restrictions, Malby-Anthony blends the beauty of the African bush with the nuts and bolts of running a game preserve in this welcome continuation of the story of Thula Thula.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2023
The third volume in the Elephant Whisperer series. In this follow-up to An Elephant in My Kitchen, Malby-Anthony continues her loving portrait of the Thula Thula wildlife reserve, which she co-founded in 1998 with her late husband, South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony, who published the first book in the series, The Elephant Whisperer, in 2009. Following his death in 2012, Malby-Anthony sought to honor his legacy by continuing his vision "to create a massive conservancy in Zululand, incorporating our land and other small farms and community land into one great big game park." At the same time, the elephants gave her "a sense of purpose and direction." In the Zulu language, thula means quiet, and though the author consistently seeks to provide that calm to her charges, peace and tranquility are not always easy to come by at Thula Thula. In this installment, Malby-Anthony discusses many of the challenges faced by her and her staff, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. These included an aggressive, 2-ton rhino named Thabo; the profound loss felt by all upon the death of their elephant matriarch, Frankie; difficulty obtaining permits and the related risk of having to relocate or cull some of their animals; the fear of looting and fire due to civil unrest in the region; and the ongoing and potentially deadly struggles with poachers. Throughout, the author also shares many warm, lighthearted moments, demonstrating the deep bond felt among the humans and animals at the reserve and the powerful effects of the kindness of strangers. "We are all working in unity for the greater good, for the betterment of Thula Thula and all our wildlife....We are humbled by the generosity and love, both from our guests and friends, and from strangers all around the world," writes the author. "People's open-hearted support kept us alive in the darkest times." A heartwarming and inspiring story for animal lovers.

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