by Ralph Helfer
To Laura Tucker, my newfound East Coast friend and editor, who permeated the book with new thinking and direction. Her ability to understand my emotional feelings toward animals allowed her to create a continuity that kept the book on the right track, and melded it into a fluid read.
For the final edit HarperCollins publishers graciously allowed Kelly Bare to take my four years of writing and put everything together to create the final book. One would have thought her an animal behaviorist, the way she swept through the many pages of animal lore and put them in the correct perspective.
Jill Schwartzman picked up the baton and took us to the finish line with patience and good grace.
My heartfelt thanks to HarperCollins for their faith in me through two books—Modoc and now Zamba.
My gratitude and affection to my agent, Richard Curtis, for his support and belief in me on a most unusual project. Through his guidance the book has kept its impact and stayed on course.
I also wish to thank my many African friends who came to my rescue and assisted me in remembering anecdotes and incidents that occurred in East Africa.
My days with Zamba were shared by two very loving and special people: Toni and my daughter, Tana. They were there during most of the time Zamba was in my life. They loved him as I did. We were “family.” And together we shared both the happy and the sad moments that came our way. I couldn’t have done it without them.
To Suzzi, my Loving African Princess, who was there whether in the middle of the night or sitting in the hot Serengeti veldt helping me through the volumes of paperwork that eventually would become Zamba. It was her essence of sharing my world that made it all possible.
To Cathi, my sister, whose love and devotion has seen me through the many years of struggle. Her belief in me and my unusual world of nature and its animals has helped me climb the ladder of achievement. She has always been there for me.
About the Author
RALPH HELFER is a well-known Hollywood animal behaviorist who was one of the first to use affection and kindness to train wild animals. He is a producer, director, and lecturer as well as the author of Mosey, The Beauty of the Beasts, and Modoc. He lives in Newport Beach and in Kenya, where he leads safari tours.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
PRAISE FOR
Zamba
“Wonderful, detailed…amusing…. Zamba is a charming read.”
—People magazine
“Legendary Hollywood animal trainer and behaviorist Ralph Helfer captures an incredible story of love between man and lion that displays all the qualities that made his previous book, Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived, so moving…. Will touch the heart of any animal lover.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Extraordinary…. Beautifully expresses a simple philosophy so many have trouble following: respect for all living creatures, given and returned.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A warmhearted tale of love between two species.”
—Booklist
“A fascinating book…. Humorous and touching.”
—School Library Journal
ALSO BY RALPH HELFER
The Beauty of the Beasts
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived
Copyright
Photographic insert excluded from electronic edition.
ZAMBA. Copyright © 2005 by Ralph Helfer. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
ePub edition January 2008 ISBN 9780061758027
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
25 Ryde Road (PO Box 321)
Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
55 Avenue Road, Suite 2900
Toronto, ON, M5R, 3L2, Canada
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com