The Last Giants: The Rise and Fall of the African Elephant

by Levison Wood

This book comes at a critical time. Fifty years ago, Africa was home to just over 1.3 million elephants, but by 1990 the number had halved. Meanwhile in the span of a lifetime, the human population has more than doubled.

In Levison Wood's The Last Giants, he explores the rapid decline of one of the world's favourite animals. Filled with stories from his own time spent travelling with elephants in Africa, the book is a passionate wake-up call for this endangered species we take for granted. The Last Giants was written to inspire us all to act - to learn more and help save the species from permanent extinction.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Africa, Science, Audiobook, History, Nature

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2020

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have enjoyed Wood's other books describing his epic hikes up the Nile and across the Himalaya, but had never known him as a naturalist until I saw this book. However, he does an excellent job combining his extensive knowledge and research with personal experience to provide pretty much everything a non-academic reader would want to know about African elephants. The book comes at these amazing creatures from pretty much every angle, including their evolutionary history, behavior, physiology, intelligence, etc.; but then switches focus to the enormous challenges facing their survival in terms of habitat loss/fragmentation, poaching, trophy hunting, constant regional warfare, and the lingering impacts of the 19th-20th century "legal" ivory trade.

As with many non-fiction audiobooks, I also like to get the physical book so I can see any photos or diagrams, and this book had a good - if small - selection of both; including this one, which pretty much sums up the entire story in two maps (historical range c. 1800; present range 2019):



FUN FACTS: For people my age who remember a childhood that included maybe a total of four types of dinosaurs (brontosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops and T-Rex), I'm amazed at just how many have been discovered and catalogued in my lifetime. Similarly, I always thought there were only two types of elephant - African and Asian - but apparently more recent science classifies Africa's smaller forest elephants as separate from the larger savannah species. I also found it fascinating to realize that Asian elephants are more closely related - by like, millions of years - to the extinct mammoths and mastodons than they are to either African species.

Sadly however, almost all other facts in this book are less fun, as the challenges to elephant survival seem to greatly outweigh any realistic solutions. However, Wood tries his best to end on a positive note, outlining a number of both short- and long-term approaches that offer at least a glimmer of hope. Interestingly and surprisingly, he provides a convincing argument that the best long-term hope lies in increasing educational opportunities for women in the developing world - too long to get into here, but well worth reading and pursuing if you're at all interested in the topic.

Otherwise…by the end of this book, my more pessimistic side made me create a new GR bookshelf called "humans suck;" and I was even more depressed to find that I could quickly add nearly 20 of my previously-listed books to this shelf :(

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

What kind of elephant was Dumbo? Anybody know? My husband and I went to DC last year and had the best time at the zoo. It’s the best one I’ve ever been to. We loved the Pandas and the Elephants!
This book was a very short history of elephants and concentrated on how dangerous they can be. I learned a lot of info on them. Their size, weight and tusk differences. How they live in the wild. And other fun facts.
The book wasn’t earth shattering but a quick short listen to some elephant history and the threat they face today. The narrator was the author and I thought he was ok. I felt my mind wandering at times and had to back it up.

Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this audiobook ARC, in exchange for my honest review. ♥️

[Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an easy choice. I like Levison Wood. I’ve read two of his excellent, if wildly masochistic at times, walking adventures. I like animals. More than people, certainly. That love may be unequal and species contingent, but few can come close to the magic of elephants. And I mean, pure magic, I find these giants absolutely magical, majestic, magnificent…well, you get it. But, sadly, not everyone does. To African farmers they may present danger, to starving people they make look like food and to the world at large driven by unchecked greed they seem to provide decorations. These are some of the main reasons elephants went from comfortably grazing over huge territories and numbering in something like 12 millions to the paltry 415 000 today. There is a map comparing African elephant population in 1800 to 2019 and it’s just devastating. So in this book Levison Wood who has already spent a significant time in Africa, walking and otherwise, returns to tell the tale of elephants and a sad tale it is. It’s a very informative book for being so compact, it covers the biological ascent of the species from the epic days of megafauna to the modern day of…well, basically, slaughter with some attempts at preservation. It talks about what makes elephants so distinct among all animals, how intelligent and emotionally intuitive and adaptable (for such behemoths) they are. It discusses the trade that has had such deleterious effects on their population that, despite having been outlawed on so many places, is still active enough to warrant the killings. And more importantly, it provides context for all of this, which is to say the author goes to great length to discuss the elephants’ role in the grand scheme of things and even from the purely biological perspective it is crucial. They contribute heavily to plant distribution (travel and poo method) and safe survival of many smaller species who (sometimes literally) follows in their giant footsteps. So even if someone somehow fails to understand how awesome elephants are, they can at least follow the facts to understand how significant they are. And Wood actually goes further to provide some actionable ideas on how to improve the situation with the heavy stress on education and promotion of peaceable coexistence. To give the man credit, he tries to be optimistic, but it’s one of those situations where numbers speak for themselves and the stories they tell are tragic. And while it is difficult in this day and age to be surprised by people’s stupidity, greed or cruelty, this book still managed to be emotionally devastating. But it is an important book, it’s highly educational and it absolutely should be read. In fact, it’s going to be a tv presentation too, which’ll most likely get it more attention than the book might. So maybe…maybe…some minds will be enlightened and/or changed. Only time will tell. Reading wise, this was somewhat different from Wood’s usual walking fare, his signature travelogues, which is to say it was more on the informational side, with not a lot of author’s personality coming through. There was still some travel involved, although it seems that this time Wood utilized wheels and other modern inventions to get there. But he does provide fond recollections of walking at least near the elephants on his previous African adventures. So there’s some of that, but so much of the book is pure pachyderm excellence. Maybe Wood just had the right idea of stepping aside to let the real (mega)stars bathe in the much deserved attention. This was good, great even, educational, edifying, erudite, well informed presentation that stayed away from going all textbookish and excited like a sort of ecofriendly well planned armchair safari expedition. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am among the many people who love elephants and are concerned about their future, so Levinson Wood's book The Last Giants: The Rise and Fall of the African Elephant appealed to me.

I knew his work from another book, I read and was certain he would be a good guide to the world of Elephants. I was not wrong. I found his description of the culture of the elephants really interesting, as well as how the elephant brain works.

I did learn more about elephants and unfortunately more about why they are endangered and how drastically their numbers have decreased over the years.

At the start of the twentieth century, Africa’s elephant population numbered anywhere between 3–12 million, but this was already a fraction of the tens of millions that likely existed only a few hundred years before. And now? Recent surveys have shown that there are only 415,000 African elephants left.

Levinson ends his book on a high note with suggestions of steps to take to save the elephant and I was most interested to read about these.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

The future for elephants is bleak – unless humankind changes its ways.

My friend Gail and I are reading this truly fantastic book simultaneously. Gail lives in South Africa near Knysna. She lives close to where elephants once lived in the surrounding forests. Levison Wood thinks there might be one very lonely elephant still living in the forest. However, Not too far from where this forest elephant lives, there is an elephant sanctuary. The elephants in the sanctuary are often visible from the road when travelling to Plettenberg Bay. Also mentioned in this book, in the hope that the elephants from this sanctuary and others living between Knysna and the Addo Elephant Park will have a unique “highway” created so that they can once again journey through the lands they once knew before they were shot to extinction.

The book is filled with data but what struck me like a bolt of lightning was how ancient these remarkable animals are. Can you imagine how much of their DNA is stored inside them? Ice ages, being used as part of armies, being speared for their tusks? Unfortunately, Levison Wood has also included some shocking data about how the numbers of elephants have declined thanks to humankind’s greed for ivory. A trade that has been going on for millennia.

While reading the book, there’ve been these crazy phone calls over thousand of kilometres because one of us would pick up on something that’s jumped out at us from the book. Levison Wood has made two friends exceptionally happy as both she and I like to think that facts and statistics were created for us to rattle off to each other.

If like Gail and I – you’re passionate about elephants, then this is a book filled with info. Not always what you might like to hear, but which you should hear so that more of us can take a stand against poaching and legal trophy hunting – something that I despise.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

[Zeljka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book thanks to the publisher through NetGalley. I am sorry it took me so long to finish it. It wasn't so difficult because I didn't like it, quite on contrary, but because it caused me such a pain to read it. Each chapter was a woeful reminder of what a beautiful world we are losing each day with our encroachment, cruelty and intolerance toward the wildlife and nature around us. European wildlife, I suspect, has already lost that battle long time ago.

Levison Wood did a stunning amount of research about elephants, their history and their issues all over African continent. However, the book is not only about animals per se, but about environmental and social crisis tightly connected with the wildlife conservation issues in Africa. Wood doesn't allow sentimentality and bias toward nature conservation to cloud his judgment.

Wood rightly summarizes Africa is not just about animals, it is about people striving together with the animals sharing the same habitats. Without prosperity for humans there is little or none chance for animals to prosper too. They are all doomed in that vicious circle of poverty that is exploited by powers to be usually living elsewhere in their penthouses. Thankfully, Wood provides us eventually a chapter with a glimmer of hope in that aspect. Ideas provided by local people with meager resources that solved some issues they had with elephants are so genuinely brilliant.

I wish so much that not only common people read this book but also people in power to do so much more than we can. People just have to realize the nature is not their enemy nor a perishable mantelpiece commodity to use but an ally and a valuable living resource to their prosperity and development. Of course, it is not just a fight for a better Africa, but for a better world, so we all must work together to stop this extinction of our planet.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent audiobook about elephants, read by the author. Elephants have always fascinated me with their intelligence and caring nature. I enjoyed learning more about these giants and especially enjoyed the discussion about conservation efforts such as creating corridors for them to pass through and underpasses for busy roads. I think this would be a great fit for any animal lover.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Thomas Land · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars /
75%

A really great all round coverage of elephants today. It covered a general evolutionary history followed by an examination of todays populations, and conservation. It was....fine, if a little basic. Lev writes an amazing travel book, where his passion lays. His foray into nature essay writing was decent, if not a little wanting.

It was informative and I did pick up a few bits, and I can see how this can prove to be a really good spring board into learning about elephant conservation and actually what is going on in their natural habitats. Additionally getting across the extremely complex situations that conservation actually is. This book I think can prove extremely useful in touching an audience which may not have appreciated elephant conservation before, or indeed, does not know where to start with such a messy, in many ways contentious, topic. It is covered well.

This is the first time I have listened to Lev read one of his own audiobooks. It was a little jarring at times but overall, an adequate job. This book is a decent one, although maybe not to listen to.

[Matt Emblen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m the first to admit that this review is going to be skewed by something so minor I just can’t get past it, so I’m sorry!

I learnt a fair bit throughout this book, not so much about elephants but around the socio and economic impact of the relationship between the animal and humans. It was interesting to learn about all the initiatives Africa implement to conserve the species and the wealth of considerations that have be taken in to account by governments when doing so.

I think Levison presented some well balanced arguments around some pretty tough topics, for example ivory trading and trophy hunting. It opened my eyes to the fact there are two sides to these arguments.

HOWEVER during the first chapter I noticed quite a few spelling, grammar and layout errors. This really cheesed me off and for the rest of the book I couldn’t get past it. For a professionally published book I feel there is no place for this. Hence the two stars, this fact really ruined the book for me.

In summary, rubbish spelling and grammar which annoyed me, but interesting formation of arguments around deep conservation topics.

[Alison]

I have read quite a few of this Authors books, and I love his journeys in different countries.
This one is different as it is an informational book on Elephants, in which he also gives us some of his personal encounters with these animals.
Very well researched and written, this book will give you information on just about any aspect of the elephants life. Here he talks mainly of the African elephant, but he does bring into play the Asian Elephant.
It is a book a bit hard to review as it is about so many different things. If you love elephants, or are worried about their future, this is a book for you. It reads very smoothly as he has added a lot of personal stories to the facts.
I thoroughly enjoyed the information given, which is eye opening in parts, but also just pure enjoyment seeing how these beautiful animals relate to one another and survive the ever growing way civilization is overtaking their needed land.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for a copy of this book.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elephants are without a doubt one of the most well-loved animals on the planet. We feel emotionally charged when we see pictures of poachers, or videos of elephants grieving for lost family. There's a connection with elephants, whether that is because we see them as having a level of intelligence that's not far from our own, or we see their behaviours as relatable and 'human-like'.

But the elephant in the room (lol) is that populations have been continuing to decline and these adored animals are endangered.

I thought it was interesting to read the different opinions and viewpoints on issues such as poaching and the ivory trade, not only ethically but from an economic and conservational standing.

The sections about human-elephant conflict brought to light many valid points, and I think at times those of us in the Western world do take for granted the fact that we don't have elephants on our doorstep ruining our crops and risking compromising our livelihood.

With the population of elephants decreasing whilst the human population increases, there is an undeniable link between the two. (As with most things), we have taken advantage of nature and wildlife, interrupting the natural cycle. However, this book isn't all doom and gloom, instead it shares fascinating stories, history and what the future holds for the planet with (or without) elephants and humans.

Once again, Levison Wood has made an interesting topic all the more interesting. Even if you don't read the book, I recommend watching his mini-series 'Walking With Elephants'. Wood is a great storyteller.

🐘🌍🏜🧡

[Cav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and informative read. Author Major Levison James Wood is a British Army officer and explorer. He is best known for his extended walking expeditions in Africa, Asia and Central America, according to his Wikipedia page.

Levison Wood :


Some more about the author can be found here, for those interested. Beginning in December 2013, over the course of nine months he undertook the first ever expedition to walk the entire length of the river Nile from the Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda. The expedition was commissioned as a four-part documentary series for Channel 4 in the UK. He also wrote a Sunday Times bestselling book detailing the expedition, Walking the Nile.

In 2015, he walked the length of the Himalayas, from Afghanistan in the west to Bhutan in the east. A year later he walked from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, where the early Spanish conquistadors landed, to Colombia, a journey of 1,800 miles (2,900 km) following the spine of Central America, crossing the infamous Darién Gap. His book Walking the Americas became a bestseller in the UK and USA.

From 2017 to the spring of 2018 he undertook another two journeys. Russia to Iran followed his early hitchhiking adventures as a student, retracing his steps from the Black Sea to the Caspian, following the Caucasus mountains through the North Caucasian republics, via Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Iran.

In September 2017 he began his most ambitious challenge to date: a full circumnavigation of the Arabian Peninsula: travelling from Syria, through Iraq, the Gulf, crossing part of the Empty Quarter desert in Oman, traversing Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Holy Land to finish in Lebanon; an expedition totalling 5,000 miles (8,000 km). During the course of the journey he was embedded with Iraqi troops fighting ISIS where he witnessed the liberation of Sharqat and also encountered Palestinian guerrillas and Hezbollah operatives. He visited the city of Palmyra which was then under Russian control. This journey was documented in the Discovery series Arabia With Levison Wood.

He has also undertaken numerous other overland journeys, including a foot crossing of Madagascar and mountain climbing in Iraq.

He documents his journeys through books, documentaries and photography.

The Last Giants begins by giving the reader a brief history of elephants; their taxonomy and evolution. Wood tells the reader about many of the modern elephant's historical relatives.



There's also some interesting talk about the cultural significance of elephants, and elephants in warfare:

"...Ancient Rome had its own encounters with the beasts when the North African leader Hannibal brought an army of war elephants halfway across Europe, and famously over the Alps, to invade Italy. At least one elephant was used in Caesar’s invasion of Ancient Britain, ‘which was equipped with armour and carried archers and slingers in its tower. When this unknown creature entered the river, the Britons and their horses fled and the Roman army crossed over...’"

Levinson Wood continues on, educating the reader on many different aspects of elephants. Among the topics covered:
*Elephant anatomy; tusks, trunk, ears.
*Elephant intelligence; the mirror test, theory of mind.
*Decline in elephant populations; Poaching, Ivory, and Trade.
*The future of elephant conservation.
*The future of the human-elephant relationships.

The writing here is decent, and Wood covers the topic in an easy engaging style that holds the reader's attention well. The book is very readable, which is a welcome change from many other books I read...
I enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to anyone interested.
4.5 stars.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable overview of the biology, history, and human interaction with elephants as well as conservation efforts. Some of the more biological parts were a bit dense, but I did enjoy the overviews of elephant behavior and psychology. The last half was very sad, with lots of info about ivory trade and poaching, but the book ended on a more uplifting note, with conservation success stories.

[Lesley Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LAST GIANTS : The rise and fall of the Africa Elephant by Levison Wood
Anyone with an interest in elephants will enjoy Levison Wood’s latest book, THE LAST GIANTS : The rise and fall of the Africa Elephant. Well-known explorer Levison, who walked 650 kms across northern Botswana with his guide Kane, making the documentary Walking with Elephants for TV Channel 4, has written a comprehensive and engrossing book.
With a life-long interest in elephants, Levison begins by writing about their fascinating history before leading onto their behavioural patterns, with cameos of some of the famous ‘big tuskers’. Levison puts forward the social and economic impact of the relationship between elephants and the people who live alongside of them. He discusses poaching and hunting, giving both sides of the arguments. Acknowledging the importance of saving their habitat, Levison, having seen their destruction, opens up a new thought process for many who do not understand the eventual outcome of elephants losing their food sources. Information is included on the initiatives being undertaken to preserve elephants, and other species, as well as a list of further reading and websites.
Travelling through east and southern Africa, Levison discovered a great deal about the complex lives of elephants, their interaction with humans, the dedication of people protecting them, and raising the standards of living for those that live alongside them – and the necessity to do something about it. He warns “if it doesn’t happen, the last giants will become extinct in the very near future”.
I took off a star for the name of Kilimanjaro incorrect - it is not Mt Kilimanjaro. Kili means Mount - thus Wood called it Mt Mt Jaro...it should be just Kilimanjaro.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read a picture book which focussed on Elephants with the most amazing photos. This book did not have the pictures, but it had the author's emotional investment in getting the complexities of Elephant conservation across.
Although there are some on the other side of the globe, this particular book focuses on the African ones (as the cover page proclaims). The author begins with an introduction about his own attachment to elephants. After a brief history of these magnificent creatures, he moves on to the practical issues facing their continued survival.
Some topics covered here will be public knowledge, but some angles elaborated here were quite enlightening.
It is not a very merry topic to debate upon, and that is another point that discussed, about how spectators from around the globe voice opinions about the conservation efforts but do not really sacrifice anything for it, unlike the people actually living in the same areas- this was probably my biggest takeaway from my read. It was a sobering realization.
I do not read as many non-fiction books as some other followers of this genre because I find them slow to read. In this case, I did not have that issue. The author is talking to us, the readers, and the style works.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elephants are fascinating and I’ve read many books about them, including two mentioned here. Levison Wood is not a Biologist or an Ethologist, but he’s a good old-fashioned British explorer. He is knowledgable but not an expert, so his account is clear and easy for regular people to understand. He does a good job of summarizing different facts about the African elephants, from their origins, history, biology and behavior. These parts I enjoyed enormously. The chapters devoted to the financial aspect of animal conservation and the monetary value of elephants lives was not really my cup of tea, but was still eye-opening. The last part is more political, so the whole volume addresses everything you need to know about these gorgeous pachyderms. The audiobook is narrated by the author so it’s like he’s telling you all these wonderful stories around the fire in the African savannah.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Tantor Audio!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a couple of books about elephants by now and honestly this has to be a favourite. I enjoyed the writing style and the conveyed information which was refreshing and contained the kind of things I hoped to learn about and looked in previous books I've read but didn't quite find.

Elephants are such tender and intelligent animals and I have walked away with more appreciation than ever for them. It was a really touching read and coaxed tears out of me a couple of times. I really appreciate how the author writes about them and his perspective on the elephants he has encountered and learned about. It is very clear that the author loves these animals and cares for them deeply and one can't help but walk away feeling the same, if not more than before.

Thank you for this beautiful book!

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 20 of my 20 Books of Summer 2o20.

This was an illuminating but horrifying insight into the plight of elephants, that accompanied the tv series hosted by the author. The TV show made a big impact on my understanding of these magnificent animals, but seeing it written down made it hit home even harder.

From the destruction of their habitats, to the ivory trade and hunting, this book really does a wonderful job of giving you a clearer picture of just how drastically their numbers have fallen and how some humans are trying to help despite many humans trying to hinder the welfare of elephants with their illegal activity.

There is also a great use of stunning photographs in this book. A fascinating read about these beautiful creatures.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has had a lifelong fascination with elephants. On several occasions as an adult, he had the opportunity to be around elephants and his fascination and appreciation grew. This discusses the history of the elephants as a species and the threats to their existence. He ends with discussion on what can be done to preserve them and their habitat.
Having read is Himalaya and Arabian travel books, I assumed (wrongly) that this would be another travel book among the African elephants. For that, I was disappointed. I've read some other books about the elephants and the poaching problem and conservation efforts. While those tended more towards soapbox treatises, this laid out a better explanation and arguments on either side. Too bad he referred to Lawrence Anthony (_The Elephant Whisperer_) as Anthony Lawrence.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved some of Levisons previous books and TV programs, especially walking the Nile. This book is a lot less 'story' and a lot more educational in comparison, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I learned a lot but the book does feel very different and probably appeals to a different audience (unless you're like me and are interested in conservation detail aswell as travel stories. I learned a lot in this book, the lives and challenges facing elephants are more complex than I had previously understood. The book delivers doubt about the future of elephants as well as some solutions and hope. It's a book I ploughed through and didn't really put down so that says a lot.

[Tim G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a captivating journey into the world of elephants. This informative book also serves as a wake up call as the pivotal role these capstone species play in eco system maintenance, is under threat.

An outstanding resource and essential reading for anyone contemplating an African Safari. It provides a deep understanding of elephants, encompassing their behaviours and the challenge they face in the wild, along with conservation measures.

The author passionately advocates for nature's protection and the preservation of biodiversity while striving for a coexistence between elephants and humans.
Overall, a motivating read and its impact resonated even more so, having recently encountered these impressive animals in their habitat in northern South Africa.

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An all too sorry tale expertly narrated of the negative impact humans have had on these majestic beasts, taking us through our impact on their society and then reversing the perspective.

A well researched and, as always, a highly readable tome from Mr Wood, but with more passion than some of his works, as he outlines his call for help if we are, collectively, to enable the next generation's children to see and enjoy such wildlife (in its natural habitat) in future years.

An emotional cry from the heart well told.

[Amy Aed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written, informative book detailing the complex lives of these wonderful creatures. I read the book in about four hours, utterly engulfed in everything Wood had to say. I found it full of interesting elephant facts about their societies and their individual roles within in it, and it taught me a lot about the species. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author who did a superb and passionate job narrating!

I really enjoyed learning about elephants and just about everything remotely tied to elephants, especially for the first 75% of the book. And then the end of the book seemed a bit repetitive; even though they were separate chapters.

I'm from the US midwest and I'm constantly battling critters (deer and voles in particular) and I can't even imagine what it would be like if elephants silently came into my gardens at night and destroyed them, especially with their high intelligence.

Thank you NetGalley and the author/Lavison Wood for the opportunity to listen to this advance read copy of The Last Giants.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved elephants and would spend summer months going to the zoo especially to see the elephant house at the Cincinnati Zoo. I just loved it. Back in my youth, we were allow to feed the elephants a bag of peanuts we would get from a coin machine. This book follows the life, death and endangerment of the African Elephant and the author's love for them. I definitely recommend this book!

[James Belbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. I thought it was going to one of those transcriptions for the tv series that you so often get. A word for word description of what you saw on tv. But no. This is way better than that. A really intelligent l, well thought out book on how and why the elephants survival is so important for our own long term survival.

Great read.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book... loved the insight on trophy hunting, understanding his habitat destruction and all of the stories around the intelligence of elephants. Just a little bit too much history at the start which I always hate...

[I Brake For Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elephants are beautiful, magical creatures and we should do our part to protect their species. This book is very informative and well written. I’d highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning more these beautiful animals.

[Kirsty Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed Levison Woods other books, and elephants have always been a fascination for me, both in their own beauty but their nature and how they interact with humans. This book was a great mix of personal stories and facts, loved it.

[Tom Romig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what I didn't know about elephants. And so much of the little I thought I knew didn't even begin to touch on the complex, impressive lives and habits of elephants. A powerful call to act on many fronts in order to put the brakes on the decline before it leads to extinction.