#SaveTheElephantDay – Wild Elephants: Conservation in the Age of Extinction

It’s Save the Elephant Day, which makes it a perfect time to talk about my new upcoming book, Wild Elephants: Conservation in the Age of Extinction. The impetus behind this book is to spread awareness of not only the challenges that elephants face in their struggle for survival as a species, but also the many efforts being made to protect them and ensure their survival moving forward.

Legendary for their size and intelligence, elephants are one of the most charismatic of megafauna. That they are under siege from poachers is no secret, and the rapidity of their declining numbers is horrifying. However, amidst the steady stream of bad news, all is not lost. Ivory prices are declining, global awareness is advancing, and recent government crackdowns are beginning to stem the flow of illegal ivory.

I’ve been honored to work with Dr. Samuel Wasser, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington. His informative text focuses on his current groundbreaking research on the illegal trade in elephant ivory that is decimating this highly intelligent, tightly knit social species. Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson also contributes, his experience in writing of the emotional experiences of animals pairing perfectly with what I’ve attempted and hopefully succeeded to capture in the affection and sense of family these animals display.

Wild Elephants is a celebration of these wondrous gentle giants and the renewed efforts countries are taking to protect their natural heritage and explores what we can do to to empower local populations to safeguard the survival of a magnificent species.

Wild Elephants: Conservation in the Age of Extinction will be available in late September of this year, but you can pre-order your copy now. 10% of proceeds from presales of Wild Elephants sold through our online store will be donated to the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology.