Gray Matters - Chand Gidwani Photography

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony & Graham Spence. A heartwarming and dramatic memoir about taking in a “rogue” herd of elephants into Anthony’s South Africa reserve and learning to communicate, trust, and heal with them.

Elephant Dawn by Sharon Pincott. An inspirational story of living thirteen years - the worst of Zimbabwe’s volatile history - with Elephants in the African Wilderness.

Love, Life and Elephants: An African Love story by Daphne Sheldrick. A deeply moving memoir that chronicles her extraordinary life devoted to saving orphaned elephants in Kenya. Blending adventure, romance, and conservation, it celebrates her lifelong partnership with wildlife — and her belief that compassion can bridge the divide between humans and the natural world.

The Cowboy and His Elephant by Malcolm MacPherson. The true story of a young elephant orphaned during a cull in Zimbabwe who is brought to the United States and adopted by rancher Bob Norris, the original Marlboro Man. It’s a poignant tale of compassion, unlikely friendship, and the enduring bond between two gentle souls from opposite worlds.

Witness to the Wild: Elephants stories on Screen

Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale. The incredible, true-life story of a baby elephant born into a rescue camp in the wilderness of Botswana. When she's suddenly orphaned at one month of age, it's up to the men who look after her herd to save her life.
Where to watch: Available to buy on DVD on Amazon

The Secret Life of Elephants. A rare, intimate look into the emotional and social worlds of elephant families in Kenya’s Samburu Reserve. Through breathtaking imagery and heartfelt storytelling, it reveals just how intelligent, connected, and compassionate these gentle giants truly are.
Where to watch: Available on DVD by BBC Worldwide

The Elephant Queen. A visually stunning and deeply moving portrait of Athena, a wise matriarch guiding her herd across the African plains in search of water and survival.
Where to watch: Apple TV.

Amazon Prime Video — available for purchase or streaming

The Ivory Game. A gripping investigative documentary that exposes the dark world of ivory trafficking and the fight to save elephants from extinction. Filmed across Africa and Asia, it reveals the courage of those risking everything to stop the illegal trade and protect these majestic creatures.
Where to watch: Netflix

Soul of the Elephant A visually poetic journey through Botswana, where filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert explore the lives and deaths of elephants with reverence and wonder. Through breathtaking imagery and quiet storytelling, it reflects on memory, spirit, and the deep emotional bonds that define these gentle giants.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video.

PBS / Nature’s official site, as part of Nature – Season 34 Episode 4.

Cherished Echoes of Elephant Wisdom

When we save elephants, we save the forests that protect the climate, the rivers that
feed our crops, and the future of all living beings

— Dr. Jane Goodall

Elephants can sense your feelings. They know if you’re happy or sad, if you feel safe or
threatened. They’re like us, only gentler, wiser, and infinitely more forgiving

— Dame Daphne Sheldrick

Elephants are not just a keystone species; they are the keystone of our humanity

— Dereck Joubert, filmmaker, Soul of the Elephant

No one in the world needs an elephant tusk but an elephant.

— Thomas Schmidt, conservationist

In their footsteps, the land remembers its purpose.

— Botswana Proverb (translated)

Elephants are the most beautiful and noble manifestation of life.

— paraphrased from Romain Gary, Les racines du ciel (1956).