Françoise Malby-Anthony's The Elephants of Thula Thula is a
powerful, gripping story about an extraordinary herd of elephants and
the woman dedicated to keeping them safe.
'Somehow, the elephants got into my soul, and it became my life's work
to see them safe and happy. There was no giving up on that vision, no
matter how hard the road was at times.'
Françoise Malby-Anthony is the owner of a game reserve in South Africa
with a remarkable family of elephants whose adventures have touched
hearts around the world. The herd's feisty matriarch Frankie knows who's
in charge at Thula Thula, and it's not Francoise. But when Frankie
becomes ill, and the authorities threaten to remove or cull some of the
herd if the reserve doesn't expand, Françoise is in a race against time
to save her beloved elephants . . .
The joys and challenges of a life dedicated to conservation are vividly
described in The Elephants of Thula Thula. The search is on to get a
girlfriend for orphaned rhino Thabo - and then, as his behaviour becomes
increasingly boisterous, a big brother to teach him manners. Françoise
realizes a dream with the arrival of Savannah the cheetah - an
endangered species not seen in the area since the 1940s - and finds
herself rescuing meerkats kept as pets. But will Thula Thula survive the
pandemic, an invasion from poachers and the threat from a mining company
wanting access to its land?
As Françoise faces her toughest years yet, she realizes once again that
with their wisdom, resilience and communal bonds, the elephants have
much to teach us.
