The Eye of the Elephant

The Eye of the Elephant chronicles Mark and Delia Owens' conservation work in Zambia's North Luangwa Valley during the late 1980s. The couple establishes an anti-poaching program while studying the area's wildlife, particularly its threatened elephant population. The narrative alternates between Mark and Delia's perspectives as they face resistance from poachers and work to gain trust within local communities. Their efforts extend beyond traditional conservation to include economic development programs intended to provide alternatives to poaching. The book details the challenges of wildlife protection in Africa, from bureaucratic obstacles to dangerous confrontations in the field. The authors document their daily work studying animal behavior while simultaneously managing the complexities of conservation in an area where poverty and poaching are interconnected. Through their experiences, the authors expose the tensions between preservation and human survival, raising questions about sustainable solutions for both wildlife and local communities. The narrative underscores the complex relationship between poverty, conservation, and human nature.

Readers call this a raw, honest account of conservation efforts in Zambia's North Luangwa Valley. The book documents the authors' battles against elephant poaching while building their wilderness research station. Readers appreciate: - Detailed descriptions of African wildlife and landscapes - The balance of scientific observation with personal narrative - Direct confrontation of corruption in wildlife protection - Insights into local village life and culture Common criticisms: - Some find the writing style overly dramatic - Questions about the authors' methods and interactions with locals - Lack of resolution on certain storylines Ratings: Goodreads: 4.27/5 (1,600+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (230+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Their determination to save elephants despite personal danger makes for compelling reading" (Goodreads review) Critical review: "They seem to view Africa through a colonial lens at times, which made me uncomfortable" (Amazon reviewer)

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🐘 Delia and Mark Owens spent nearly a decade in Zambia's North Luangwa Valley fighting against rampant elephant poaching, which had reduced the elephant population from 17,000 to 6,000 in just a few years. 🌍 The authors established their own conservation foundation and pioneered a revolutionary approach that helped local villagers develop alternative sources of income to poaching. 📚 This book is the sequel to their first work, "Cry of the Kalahari," which chronicled their time studying wildlife in Botswana's Central Kalahari Desert. 🏆 Both Delia and Mark hold Ph.D.s in zoology and their conservation work has earned them multiple awards, including the Rolex Award for Enterprise and the Africa Wildlife Award. 🎯 Their anti-poaching efforts were so effective that they faced death threats from organized poaching syndicates, forcing them to wear bulletproof vests while conducting their conservation work.