The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures

Having recently read The Elephant Whisperer I had high expectations for The Last Rhinos and was not disappointed. It's a different mood though, darker and somewhat terrifying as Anthony travels to the Congo to visit The Lords Resistance Army in a last ditch effort to save the Northern White Rhino. Some of the things Anthony does are incredible, surreal, but it's a great insight into the problems of conservation in Africa and why the Rhinos and other species are endangered. Unexpectedly I gained a new understanding of the LRA that runs counter to their reputation as terrorists. So this book is somewhat more wide ranging dealing with rhinos, the politics of conservation, the conflict in Uganda and the LRA, with interludes back in South show more Africa including some wonderful stories of a 7-year drought; and the introduction of a new bull elephant into the herd. The book was published in 2012 around the same time Lawrence unexpectedly died of a heart attack so the epilogue provides closure and forward looking thoughts. For any fan of Africa wildlife (and who isn't) this and the other books co-written with Spence are superb. show less

I have read and loved Anthony's works but unfortunately this one didn't hit the same as the likes of The Elephant Whisperer. Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable, but it didn't quite have that same sense of closeness, warmth and intimacy. I wonder how much of this has to do with the setting, much of which occurs in a more hostile environment than the love and tranquillity he feels in his home.

The contents were important though! The politics of conservation are so much more complicated than most people realise. This also provides a unique insight into how groups like the Lord's Resistance Army impact conservation efforts. Unless you are specifically interested in the events of this book you may benefit from reading The Elephant show more Whisperer and/or Babylon's Ark first since he does refer to the events of both of these books and The Elephant Whisperer provides more context for his life in Thula Thula. It's definitely not required though if these books don't appeal to you or if you don't have access to them. show less

Lawrence Anthony was running a game reserve in South Africa when he heard that there were only about 15 northern white rhinos left in one reserve in the Congo. Unfortunately, the reserve had been abandoned by the people meant to protect the rhinos because of the presence of a terrorist group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. Lawrence was still worried about those rhinos, so he gathered a group of people who were willing to help and went to government officials to see if he could convince them to allow him and his people to rescue the rhinos to take them somewhere safe. In amidst all this, Lawrence ended up negotiating with the LRA for peace, while trying to enlist their help in protecting the rhinos.

I really liked this, even though there show more was more politics in the book than I’d expected. The start and end of the book focused on the rhinos and the animals in Lawrence’s own reserve, but most of the middle of it was his negotiations with the LRA. Even so, it was written in a way that I was quite interested in how it would all go, both with the animals and with the peace negotiations. show less

Book on CD narrated by Simon Vance
3.5***

Subtitle: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures
Alternate Subtitle: The Powerful Story of One Man's Battle to Save a Species

Lawrence Anthony has been called the Indiana Jones of conservationism. He certainly lives up to that moniker in this memoir of his efforts to save the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the wild.

Anthony went to great lengths to plan a rescue of these magnificent beasts. But he was up against a growing market for the illegally gotten rhino horns (which are nothing more than keratin … the same basic material that makes up our fingernails), the increasingly military-style training and equipped poachers, the inane bureaucratic hoops he had to jump show more through (repeatedly), and a civil war with one of the most feared, ruthless rebel groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Still, he would not give up. The stories of his meetings with official leaders, and then with LRA generals are fascinating.

Of course, he also writes about the animals … from rhinos to elephants to bushbabies to spitting cobras. No living creature will be killed by man on his reserve, Thula Thula in Zululand, South Africa. I only wish that more of the book was focused on the animals rather than on the negotiations with government officials and rebel group leaders.

Simon Vance does a wonderful job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings this memoir to life; I felt as if Anthony, himself, were telling me about his adventures. show less

Excellent story-telling. This is a biography and an epitaph. The story is inspiring but yet sad. I strongly recommend the book.

After reading the Elephant Whisperer I could not wait to read another of Lawrence Anthony's books. This book is best read after the Elephant Whisperer because it continues the story of the animals on and off the reserve and the many adventures related to them. It brought me back to our wonderful time spent in Africa and also feeling the shock and outrage towards poachers. We as human beings are actually guests stepping into the animal world when in Africa on the reserves and Anthony is very attuned to this truth. He is truly inspirational in working to protect and save these remarkable creatures. Knowing how to get things to happen in the "African way and time" is his greatest achievement.

I enjoyed The Elephant Whisper more but still very much enjoyed this book. It ended up being more about African politics than wildlife but, sadly, that is the truth and needs to be heard. Lawrence Anthony was truly an amazing and dedicated man! Great, worthwhile read!!