Secrets of the Savanna

"Vividly written...Their story is thrilling—the kind of tale that wild-animal lovers won't easily forget."—People In this riveting real-life adventure, Mark and Delia Owens tell the dramatic story of their last years in Africa, fighting to save elephants, villagers, and—in the end—themselves. The award-winning zoologists and pioneering conservationists describe their work in the remote and ruggedly beautiful Luangwa Valley, in northeastern Zambia. There they studied the mysteries of the elephant population’s recovery after poaching, discovering remarkable similarities between humans and elephants. A young elephant named Gift provided the clue to help them crack the animals’ secret of survival. A stirring portrait of life in Africa, Secrets of the Savanna is a remarkable record of the Owenses's unique passions. But their work went beyond science—it was a dangerous, decades-long battle for the soul of the savanna. A True African Adventure: Follow zoologists Mark and Delia Owens into the remote Luangwa Valley as they battle heavily armed poachers and corrupt officials to save the last herds of elephants. Pioneering Anti-Poaching Efforts: Discover the innovative and dangerous strategies the Owenses developed to turn the tide against the illegal ivory trade, putting their own lives on the line. Community-Based Conservation: Learn how they empowered local Zambian villagers with alternatives to poaching, forging an unprecedented alliance between people and wildlife. Unforgettable African Wildlife: Meet Gift, a young orphaned elephant whose story of survival offered a clue to the resilience of her species and changed the Owenses’ lives forever.