Anthony, who grew up in rural Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, was known for his remarkable ability to connect with and soothe traumatized elephants. In his book The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, he shares the story of how he saved the elephant herds at the request of an animal welfare organization.
Anthony realized the only way to save these elephants—labeled violent and unruly—was to live alongside them. He said, “To save their lives, I would stay with them, feed them, talk to them. But, most importantly, be with them day and night.”
When Anthony died of a heart attack, the elephants, who were grazing miles apart in different parts of the park, traveled more than 12 hours to reach his home. According to his son Jason, both herds arrived shortly after Anthony’s passing. They hadn’t visited the compound where Anthony lived for a year and a half, but Jason believes, “in coming up there on that day of all days, we certainly believe that they had sensed it.”