Death at Seaworld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity- David Kirby (2013): Death at SeaWorld centers on the battle with the multimillion-dollar marine park industry over the controversial and even lethal ramifications of keeping killer whales in captivity. Following the story of marine biologist and animal advocate at the Humane Society of the US, Naomi Rose, Kirby tells the gripping story of the two-decade fight against PR-savvy SeaWorld, which came to a head with the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. An elephant never forgets, but Lexington Willow can’t remember what happened before a tornado swept her away when she was a toddler. All she knows is that it landed her near an enclosure in a Nebraska zoo. And there an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm. But as with all things in life, we don’t all agree about some of the books. Some people like some that others couldn’t even finish. Just because the book is on the list, doesn’t guarantee you’ll enjoy it. Please read a full review before dipping into the stories. Also remember, if you enjoy a book written by a researcher or conservationist, most have other books as well that you can look for. Pull up your Goodreads because we’ve got 18 truly amazing books about elephants for you to add to your TBR list. I suppose if there were a part of the world in which mastodon still lived, somebody would design a new gun, and men, in their eternal impudence, would hunt mastodon as they now hunt elephant. Impudence seems to be the word. At least David and Goliath were of the same species, but, to an elephant, a man can only be a midge with a deathly sting.

Lawrence Anthony devoted his life to animal conservation, protecting the world’s endangered species. Then he was asked to accept a herd of “rogue” wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand. We have given short descriptions and broken the books up into categories, so if there is something specific you are looking for, it’s easier to find. Some people want to educate themselves more on the broad range of subjects involving elephants, while others just want to get lost in a story that brings them closer to elephants – so we took that into account. Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity- G.A. Bradshaw (2010): Drawing on accounts from India to Africa and California to Tennessee, and on research in neuroscience, psychology, and animal behavior, G. A. Bradshaw explores the minds, emotions, and lives of elephants.Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Coexistence – Christen Wemmer, Catherine Christen (2008): In Elephants and Ethics, Christen Wemmer and Catherine A. Christen assemble an international cohort of experts to review the history of human/elephant relations, discuss current issues of vital concern to elephant welfare, and assess the prospects for the ethical coexistence of both species.

Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees-Roger Fouts (1998): For 30 years Roger Fouts has pioneered communication with chimpanzees through sign language–beginning with a mischievous baby chimp named Washoe. This remarkable book describes Fout’s odyssey from novice researcher to celebrity scientist to impassioned crusader for the rights of animals.of the profit from the sale of the book will be donated to Born Free Foundation Saving Meru's giants project.

Love, War, and Circuses: The Age-Old Relationship Between Elephants and Humans – Eric Scigliano (2004): In a kaleidoscopic account rich in historic lore, surprising science, and exotic adventure, Eric Scigliano traces an age-old, extraordinary relationship between species and shows how it still haunts and inspires us today.Elephants are memorable giants. They have great memories and are incredibly intelligent. Contrastingly, they can be incredibly gentle with their young, yet are one of the fiercest wild animals out there.

Now that she’s twelve, Lex is finally old enough to help with the elephants. But during their first training session, Nyah sends her a telepathic image of the woods outside the zoo. Despite the wind’s protests, Lex decides to investigate Nyah’s message. She gets wrapped up in an adventure involving ghosts, lost treasure, and a puzzle that might be the key to finding her family. We have some book club guides for books that feature animals as a primary character or plot driver. Gods in Chains – Rhea Ghosh (2005): The book hopes to highlight the conditions of captive elephants as they are currently used and kept in India. Initially started as informal documentation, Gods in Chains later expanded to become a handbook of sorts, for anyone wanting to know more of the reality behind the veil of glamour and majesty of the captive pachyderm, especially in temple rituals and festival processions. The often troubled and complex relationship with their only companion, the mahout, is also a story of pathos and heartbreak for a deeply social and community-minded animal.The book is so full of beautiful pictures of Elephants that shows they are full of personality and just how majestic they truly are. I love it and so do my family." Bohemoth: The History of the Elephant in America – Ronald B. Tobias (2013): A chronicle tracing the elephant’s indelible footprint on American culture, and its 200 year history