This is a story set in the big game country in Africa. As a reader who knows little about elephants, I was mesmerized by the will, courage, intelligence and resilience displayed by the biggest land animals in the book.
White foreigners went to Africa for gold, glory, power, God, control, business and myriad other reasons. Some probably fell in love with the big, wild continent. Others could have become rich dabbling in one thing or another. A few could have fallen in love and make animal cause their life work like Jane Goodall.
Among the newsmen who went to attend the conference in the book, three remained behind at the end of the conference: Abe Finkel, Mary Delden, and Colin Tait. They were guests of the Government to witness and record the scientific culling of the elephants to feed the starving folks in the northern drought region.
With population increase, imminent famine, political upheaval and the threat of poachers, the survival of wild game outside of well run reserves is a big question mark! As we witness the pollution of land, air and water, how can we expect the conservation of animals to be undertaken better than how the poor and homeless are being treated in most countries?
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