Lawrence Anthony facts for kids

Lawrence Anthony (born September 17, 1950 – died March 2, 2012) was a famous conservationist, environmentalist, and author from South Africa. He was known for his brave efforts to protect animals and nature.

Lawrence was in charge of conservation at the Thula Thula animal reserve in Zululand, South Africa. He also started The Earth Organization, a group focused on protecting the environment using science. He was a member of the well-known Explorers Club in New York.

He was famous for his bold projects. These included rescuing animals from the Baghdad Zoo during the Iraq War in 2003. He also worked to protect endangered species, like the rare Northern White Rhinos.

News about his conservation work appeared on channels like CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. It was also featured in magazines such as Readers Digest and Smithsonian.

Lawrence Anthony died from a heart attack when he was 61. He was planning an event to raise awareness about the rhino poaching crisis. After he passed away, some of the elephants he had saved reportedly came to his home. They stood there for two days, as if mourning his death, just like elephants do for their own kind.

Biography

Lawrence Anthony was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His grandfather had moved there from England to work in the gold mines. Lawrence grew up in different parts of Southern Africa, including what is now Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Later, his family settled in Zululand, South Africa.

At first, Lawrence worked in insurance and real estate. But by the mid-1990s, he found his true passion: the African bush. He bought the Thula Thula game reserve, which is about 5,000 acres. This is where he began his work as a conservationist.

A big moment in his career happened when he was asked to help a group of nine elephants. These elephants had escaped their enclosure and were causing problems. They were about to be shot. Lawrence tried to communicate with the lead female elephant using his voice and body language. He managed to rescue them and bring them to his reserve. Because of this, he became known as the "Elephant-whisperer."

In 2003, he started The Earth Organization, his own conservation group. His efforts also led to two new reserves in South Africa. These were the Royal Zulu Biosphere and the Mayibuye Game Reserve. They aimed to help local tribes earn money through wildlife tourism.

Lawrence Anthony was married to Francoise Malby. They lived on the Thula Thula game reserve. He had two sons, Dylan and Jason, and two grandsons.

After his death, a group of wild elephants he had rescued and cared for walked to his home. They stood there for two days, seemingly to pay their respects.

In April 2012, he was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. This was a special award given after his death.

Rescuing Animals at Baghdad Zoo

A tiger cub at the Baghdad Zoo, which Anthony helped rescue, being given a medical check-up by US Army Doctors

The Baghdad Zoo was the largest zoo in the Middle East. However, after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was in great danger. Bombs had hit the zoo, and many animals were stolen for food or starved.

When Lawrence Anthony finally reached the zoo, only 35 of the original 700 animals had survived. He couldn't get there sooner because of the war. The animals that survived were mostly large ones, like bears, hyenas, lions, and tigers.

During the chaos of the war, Lawrence hired people to help protect the zoo. He worked with some of the zookeepers to care for the animals. He even bought donkeys from the streets of Baghdad to feed the meat-eating animals. US Army soldiers, Iraqi people, and other volunteers also came to help.

Eventually, L. Paul Bremer, who was in charge of the area, supported the zoo. American engineers helped to reopen it. Lawrence Anthony wrote a book about rescuing the Baghdad Zoo during the war. A major Hollywood company has bought the rights to make a movie about it.

Protecting African Wildlife

As an expert in African wildlife, Lawrence Anthony believed in involving local tribes in conservation. He thought this was key to protecting animals in Africa for the future. He created two new Game Reserves in South Africa: the Royal Zulu Biosphere and the Mayibuye Game Reserve. The Royal Zulu Biosphere is even expanding to connect with the famous Umfolozi Hluhluwe reserve.

Lawrence was especially focused on helping traumatized African elephants. He formed a special bond with a wild herd of elephants at the Thula Thula Reserve. His second book, The Elephant Whisperer, tells the amazing story of his relationship with these elephants.

Books by Lawrence Anthony

Lawrence Anthony was a bestselling author. His books have been translated into many languages. His brother-in-law, Graham Spence, helped him write all three of his books.

His first book, Babylon's Ark, tells the true story of how he rescued animals from the Baghdad Zoo during the war. This book won several awards, including the Booklist Editors Choice award. It also won the French 28th Prix Littéraire 30 millions d'amis literary award, sometimes called the "Goncourt for animals."

Lawrence's second book, The Elephant Whisperer, shares his adventures and his special connection with a rescued herd of African elephants.

His third book, The Last Rhinos, is a true story about his efforts to save the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the DR Congo.

Awards and Recognitions

• Member of the governing council of the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science.

See also

In Spanish: Lawrence Anthony para niños