"The Elephant Whisperer!!!"

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003. 

 

On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons & numerous elephants. 

 

Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.

 

A total of 20 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African house. Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence 's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way:

 

Walking slowly - for days - making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house.

 

Lawrence's wife, Francoise,  was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over a year!  But yet they knew where they were going.

 

 The elephants obviously wanted to pay  their deep respects, honoring  their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights. Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

Courtesy of John Goodall

"A few years ago, one of my men came running in to the tiger barn and exclaimed, "Wade, something is going on with the elephants.  They are freaking out."  I ran outside to the elephant paddocks and was incredulous at what I saw.  Minnie and Lottie had laid down and were sitting up, Gyp was doing a shake-em-up with Ronnie and Joy waltzing around her.  Nic had pulled the tub used for trimming his feet up to the bar's of his pen and was standing on it doing a trunk foot salute.  Even Billie who normally just tried to whack people was doing a one foot stand in the middle of the pen.  I just couldn't believe it.  I ran for my phone and called John Cuneo.  When John answered the phone he said,  "Oh Wade, I was just going to call you.  I received the terrible new's this morning that Rex Williams has died."   That explained the actions of the elephants.  They knew, given there extra terrestrial, super intelligence that Rex had died and they were giving one last performance in his honor.   You have to believe that, if you are going to believe the nonsense above about a 12 mile trek undertaken by 20 elephants in honor of the "elephant whisperer",  proof being the two photo's posted.  My God, why isolate one "good Samaritan"  to pay "homage" to?  With as many field researchers, scientist's, biologists, etc. etc. and other folks giving a hand, you would think the elephants of Africa would be kept busy almost round the clock forming memorial parades.    I shudder to think what will happen when Iain Douglas-Hamilton dies.  Every elephant, from every corner of Africa will probably show up.  I hope they don't stay for 2 days, and 2 nights, because feeding them would be a big issue.   Even more amazing is there are people in this world who will believe the story above, simply because they want to.  But they won't believe the story about the circus elephants paying homage to Rex Williams, because they don't want to.   That's why fact's are not necessary in an animal right's agenda.  Folks don't need facts.  They just need to be told what they want to hear, and it is a simple matter to make it up as you go."