When conservationist Lawrence Anthony died, two herds of wild elephants he had rescued walked 12 miles to his home. They stood there for two days. They had not visited in 18 months. Nobody called them. Nobody changed their feeding route. Nobody can explain how they knew. They came back on the anniversary of his death. Every year.
Two Herds of Elephants Walked 12 Miles to Mourn the Man Who Saved Their Lives
Lawrence Anthony was a South African conservationist who ran the Thula Thula Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. In the late 1990s, he took in two herds of elephants that other reserves had rejected as too dangerous and too aggressive. They had been sentenced to be culled.
Anthony spent months building trust with the elephants. He slept near their enclosures. He talked to them constantly. He earned the nickname "The Elephant Whisperer," which became the title of his bestselling book. Over years of patient work, the elephants calmed and the herds stabilized.
March 2, 2012
Lawrence Anthony died of a heart attack on March 2, 2012. He was 61.
Two days later, the first herd arrived at his home on the reserve. They walked 12 miles through the bush to reach the house. The second herd arrived the following day.
"They all hung around for about two days before making their way back into the bush," his son Dylan Anthony told reporters.
The elephants had not visited the house in over 18 months. Nobody at the reserve had contacted them. Nobody had changed their feeding patterns or routes. They simply came.
The Mystery
No one has been able to explain how the elephants knew Anthony had died. Elephants are known to mourn their dead, visiting and touching the bones of deceased family members. But Anthony was not an elephant. The communication channel, whatever it was, remains unknown.
Barbara Wiseman, president of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization, confirmed the events. Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, wrote about the incident in Psychology Today, calling it one of the most striking examples of animal grief ever documented.
The Returns
According to the Thula Thula reserve, the elephants returned in March 2013, "exactly same day and same time as precedent year." They returned again in March 2014 for the third consecutive year.
Lawrence Anthony saved their lives. They walked 12 miles to say goodbye.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the elephants know Lawrence Anthony had died?
How far did the elephants walk?
Did the elephants return every year?
Why were the elephants sentenced to be destroyed?
Verified Fact
Verified via Beliefnet, Thula Thula official site, Psychology Today (Marc Bekoff), Dylan Anthony quotes. Key correction: "12 miles" not "12 hours" -- Barbara Wiseman (LAEO president) explicitly corrected viral misquote. Death March 2, 2012 confirmed. Two herds confirmed by Dylan Anthony. "18 months" (not "over a year") from Dylan to NYT. Anniversary returns documented by Thula Thula for 2013 and 2014.
Thula Thula ReserveRelated Topics
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