Eye
Of The Elephant: An Epic Adventure In The African Wilderness
Delia and Mark Owens
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books (October 29, 1993)
ISBN: 0395680905
Overall Rating: 4 Stars 
Readability: 4 Stars
Content: 4 Stars
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this book
The Eye Of The Elephant bears testament to the quality and impact
of the Owens's first book, Cry Of The Kalahari. The publication
of Cry Of The Kalahari brought so much international attention
to the mismanagement of Botswana's National Parks that the Owens's
visas were revoked and they were forced to leave Botswana. As
a result, the couple began searching Africa for a suitable area
to continue their conservation research. They finally decided
to establish a research site in Zambia's North Luangwa National
Park. When the Owens arrived at their chosen site, they quickly
realized that the elephants in the park were being poached at
an alarmingly unsustainable rate. Rather than performing their
intended research, the Owens quickly found themselves in a struggle
to protect the remaining elephants in the Luangwa valley. The
Eye Of The Elephant is one of the first popular books to raise
the issue of community conservation. The Owens recognized that
without the support of the local communities they would never
be able to eliminate the poaching of the elephants. By involving
local people in the conservation of the park, the Owens were able
to create both jobs and revenue for the villages surrounding the
park. Once the villagers were aware that the elephants had a greater
value alive than dead, the poaching was reduced to negligible
levels. While not quite as good as Cry Of The Kalahari, The Eye
Of The Elephant is still very highly recommended.
